The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) has opened applications for eight paid apprenticeships in countryside management to help young people enter the environmental sector.

The 18-month programme combines practical training with academic study. Participants will develop skills in conservation, forestry, peatland restoration, and traditional land management while working toward a Level 2 Countryside Worker qualification at Craven College in Skipton.

Positions are available with six partner employers operating across the Yorkshire Dales national park and surrounding rural areas. These include the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, FACM Ltd, Tree Tops Forestry, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Peat Partnership, and Marsdens AES Ltd.

The scheme, which requires no initial formal qualifications, is designed to provide a direct route into rural employment. According to the trust, more than 85 per cent of its apprentices over the last 15 years have progressed into permanent jobs or further education. Recent graduate Alfie Baines, for example, secured a permanent ranger role with the National Park Authority after completing his training.

Alfie said: “I would encourage anyone considering an apprenticeship through the Millennium Trust to apply. It gives you the opportunity to work in the countryside while completing your Countryside Management course, as well as gaining a wide range of practical experience through training courses and hands-on learning. I've had the chance to develop new skills, learn about different aspects of countryside management and build valuable experience for my future career.”

The initiative comes amid a challenging UK youth labor market. National statistics indicate that nearly one million young people across the country are currently classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), making entry-level positions highly competitive.

Long-term funding for the scheme has been provided by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, a subscription lottery system in Great Britain that raises money for charitable causes.

YDMT chief executive Michael Devlin said: “The employment market is really tough for school leavers at the moment, and we know how hard it is for young people to gain that vital work experience to take their first steps on the career ladder. Across the country, there are almost 1 million young people struggling to get a foot on the career ladder or find a suitable training course. Entry level jobs are so competitive, and apprenticeships are essential to support young people into training and jobs.

“Our apprenticeship programme runs for 18 months, meaning we typically have around 15 to 20 apprentices training with us at any one time. Our employer partners train them in a wide range of outdoor skills so they’re ready for a career in conservation or land management.

“More than 85 per cent of the apprentices we have trained over the last 15 years have gone on to jobs or further education. Hopefully, this will create more opportunities for young people across the county to find work close to home, so that they can remain in the communities where they grew up.”

The opportunities are open to applicants aged 16 and over who live in or near the Yorkshire Dales. Applications close on Sunday, July 26. The link to apply is https://www.ydmt.org/apprenticeship-jobs