Julie-Ann Murray has been named Scotland’s Apprentice of the Year after she proved outstanding in her field while working on a sheep farm in Shetland.
The 21-year-old also won the Modern Apprentice SCQF Level 5 category at the Scottish Apprenticeship awards held this week.
Ms Murray, from North Roe, was desperate to stay on the island and work with animals but faced a lack of opportunities and the expense of going to college on the mainland.
She was offered a role on Pat Johnson’s farm working as an Agricultural Modern Apprentice and now tends to the farm’s 1,000 ewe flock unassisted.
‘The Modern Apprenticeship allows me to do what I love’
Julie-Ann said: “Doing a full-time course would have meant being off the island for long periods, but we live on a croft and I didn’t want to leave everything for my dad to do. I also have my two dogs and a horse to look after.
“A full-time college course meant paying for accommodation and travel which is very expensive, so it didn’t work for me.
“The Modern Apprenticeship allows me to do what I love, gain experience and a qualification, and be more financially independent.”
Julie-Ann attends SRUC Barony Campus in Dumfries for five weeks a year and is progressing to a Level 6 Modern Apprenticeship.
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