A TILLICOULTRY man won four awards at a national ceremony last week, including the night's biggest accolade.

Niall Provan, an environmental conservation trainee from the Wee County, earned a quartet of honours at Lantra Scotland's ALBAS, the Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills, which took place at a special virtual ceremony on Thursday, March 4.

The 21-year-old picked up the ALBAS Overall Winner award, which was the highest accolade of the night, as well as the Environmental Conservation Learner of the Year award, the Modern Apprenticeship award and the Tam Tod trophy.

The Tam Tod trophy is made in association with Countryside Learning Scotland to an outstanding young learner and was created in memory of the late Tam Tod, described as a well-loved gamekeeper, ghillie and lifelong friend of the countryside.

Niall has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Rural Skills at the Callander Youth Project Trust, through SRUC Oatridge.

He said: "My interest in environmental conservation started from a young age.

"I've always been interested in exploring the countryside, climbing hills, and knowing how landscapes formed.

"I took the first steps towards working in the industry by studying Countryside Management at SRUC.

"After achieving my NC and HNC, I was able to find my way into the apprenticeship with the Callander Landscape Partnership, which has been an amazing first role in the industry."

Employers, colleges, trainees and their families joined the online event which was hosted by Liz Barron-Majerik, director of Lantra Scotland and Jim Smith, well-known Perthshire farmer and stand-up comedian.

The awards were officially opened by cabinet secretary for finance Kate Forbes, who praised the nominees for continuing to develop their skills and helping to drive forward their rural communities, making them sustainable places to live, work and thrive.

Rural industries covered were agriculture, animal care, aquaculture, equine, environmental conservation, horticulture, land-based engineering and trees and timber.

The ALBAS are organised by Lantra Scotland, the sector skills council for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation industries.

Liz Barron-Majerik, Lantra Scotland's director, said everyone who was nominated should be very proud of their achievements.

She continued: "This time last year the ALBAS were very different, but I'm delighted we've still been able to honour Scotland's top learners in 2021.

"It's been a challenging year for many in our sector, but we're focussing on the future and recognising the work of some of our key workers and learners.

"The ALBAS are a very effective way of highlighting their success, and of getting employers involved in growing the next generation of talent."

Visit youtube.com/watch?v=74ypnxwWLsU to watch the full awards show.