College recruiting staff to help promote countryside

Published on 07/09/2012 13:41

AN agricultural college in West Lothian is recruiting staff to drive a campaign to combat the county’s “urban/rural divide” in the hopes of getting around 2500 people enjoying the 
countryside.

Oatridge College is sieving through applications to employ a co-ordinator and three project workers before the end of the month to start engaging with schools, community groups and voluntary organisations.

Adrian Kitchen, the college’s director of business and curriculum development, said: “The countryside is beautiful, but it is also important to the economic wellbeing of the region. We need to promote a greater respect for, and understanding of, what goes on there, and raise awareness of the opportunities and employment it 
provides.”

The Rural Connect project is being funded by Oatridge, West Lothian LEADER and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It is hoped the project will attract 600 new students to the college keen on learning a rural skill.