Workstart: Rural Skills
Our Workstart: Rural Skills Pathway course has been created in partnership with local and national employers and organisations. It is designed for young people with additional support needs, including care experienced young people, who work better in a practical outdoor environment.
This rural skills pathway will give young people the opportunity to learn practical skills and explore opportunities and employment within the rural economy.
The Pathway to Rural Skills embeds these 4 themes:
- Rural Employability skills -We offer a practical SQA Steps to Work programme where students participate in community rural projects, whilst discovering their personal qualities.
- Practical Rural skills – We work with local and national rural employers to help young people learn the practical skills needed in the rural economy, with the potential to gain accredited LANTRA certificates.
- Employment Progression in Rural Skills - We support students to develop knowledge of the rural employment opportunities including forestry, practical conservation, estate maintenance, and hospitality, and we have an emphasis on sustainable employment at the end of the course.
- Attainment –SQA level 4 Coreskills, Hospitality and Practical Trades are embedded into the course, and students work throughout the year on increasing their qualifications at their required level.
The course is one-year full-time, 16 hours per week. Students must be prepared to participate in outdoor work.
Content
- SQA Steps to Work Award, involving practical volunteer work in the Community- Level 3 or 4
- SQA level 4: Coreskills, Hospitality, Practical Trade
- Potential to gain LANTRA Accredited Brush Cutting and Strimming Certificates
Progression
- Project SEARCH
- Other FE college courses
- Other training opportunities
- Employment
Entry requirements
- No formal requirements- applicants will be invited to a suitability session and must be able to work between SCQF Levels 3 and 4
- Students must be aged 16 or over before the 4 October 2026
- Students must be willing to participate in suitable local community projects
- Students must be independent travellers
- Please be aware that in line with Scottish Funding Council guidance, 16–24-year-old prospective students who meet the criteria for this course, will be allocated available places first and any remaining places will be allocated in line with normal college practice
More Info
Further advice for full-time applicants:
• Please ensure you have an online account before starting your application
• If you created your account prior to November 2024, you will need to register a new account
• Before starting the application process, please ensure you already hold or are working towards the relevant entry qualifications required for the course you are applying for
• Ensure you use your own personal email address when creating your online account
• Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email immediately
• If you do not receive an acknowledgement e-mail immediately, please check your SPAM/Junk folder
• Please include as much detail as possible in your personal statement such as: the reason you are applying, future career plans, previous employment, relevant experience, hobbies and interests
• Disclosing support needs in your application will not affect your chances of being offered a place on a course at Forth Valley College
• If your application is successful, you will be invited for interview. For January start courses interviews will be in Nov/Dec and interviews for August start courses will take place between February and May
• If your application is unsuccessful, you will be offered support in finding a suitable alternative course
• Applicants who provide a mobile phone number on their application form will be sent a text reminder prior to the day of interview
• If you are unable to attend an interview or wish to withdraw your application - please email student.applications@forthvalley.ac.uk
Alloa Campus
Full-Time
17 August 2026
Level 4
Falkirk Campus
Full-Time
17 August 2026
Level 4