Bishop Burton College and National Trust nurture the next generation of countryside workers

Launched to support the National Trust’s sites across the North of England, the 14-month apprenticeship provides mature learners with the opportunity to gain specialist countryside management skills directly aligned to their daily roles.

Eleven apprentices are currently enrolled, supported by National Trust mentors, college delivery staff and local countryside businesses.

Training takes place through block-release weeks at Bishop Burton’s extensive campus and working farm, supplemented by one-to-one tutorials, workplace reviews and digital portfolio monitoring.

Learners gain hands-on experience in habitat management, access work, biodiversity monitoring and heritage conservation, supported by modern learning tools such as RAG-rated progress dashboards.

This blended approach ensures that apprentices receive a flexible and responsive training package, tailored to their individual skills and career ambitions.

The programme has already achieved outstanding results, with a 100% pass rate to date.

All completers have progressed into sustained roles within the countryside and environmental management sector, contributing directly to national priorities such as biodiversity action and carbon sequestration.

Feedback from apprentices and the National Trust confirms the programme’s success in developing both technical and professional skills.

Employer engagement is at the heart of the initiative. National Trust mentors work closely with college staff to ensure learning is practical, relevant and immediately applicable in the workplace.

Curriculum content is continuously updated in line with sector priorities, while strategic partnerships with local contractors and ecological surveyors add real-world expertise and career insight.

The programme also places a strong emphasis on inclusion and accessibility. Designed with mature learners in mind, it removes barriers for those re-entering education or working in remote rural areas.

Flexible block delivery, digital communication and individualised tutorials ensure no learner is disadvantaged.

Learners are supported by the college’s safeguarding and pastoral networks, while staff undertake regular CPD in inclusive teaching and rural pedagogy.

For Bishop Burton College, the partnership reflects its long-term commitment to green careers and employer-led learning.

Leaders and governors have invested in staff development, digital tools and specialist resources to ensure the highest standards of delivery.

The model has been recognised as scalable and is being shared with other providers through Landex networks, employer forums and sector consultations.

By working hand-in-hand with the National Trust, Bishop Burton College is shaping the future of countryside management training.

Together, they are ensuring that both learners and employers benefit from a programme that supports environmental stewardship, strengthens the rural workforce and delivers lasting impact for communities and landscapes across the region.