Black Isle FLS craftsperson apprentice takes home top accolade at national awards ceremony
A CROMARTY craftsperson apprentice has scooped the highest accolade at a national awards ceremony.
Stewart Smith, an apprentice craftsperson with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), triumphed at the 2025 Lantra Scotland Awards for Land Based and Aquaculture skills. Stewart completed an impressive hat-trick that included being named as the overall winner — the highest accolade of the night — along with securing the Modern Apprentice Trees and Timber Learner of the Year.
As well as his apprenticeship, Stewart is also doing an SVQ in trees and timber at the Scottish School of Forestry at UHI Inverness.
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“It is pretty special to have won these awards. It was not something I was expecting,” said Stewart. “It really is a testament to the support and training we, as apprentices, get from FLS colleagues in our teams and regions and across the organisation.
“I feel lucky that I have been able to find and take on an opportunity like this that allows me to work outdoors and in nature and is providing me with a route into a rewarding career in forestry.”
Graeme Prest, director of land management and regions, said: “I want to congratulate our nominated apprentices on achieving these fantastic results. It is a testament to their hard work and dedication as well as the efforts of the staff guiding them through their apprenticeships.
“At FLS we are incredibly proud of all our apprentices who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and from across Scotland and even further afield.
“Modern Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to bring new blood into the forestry sector and equip people with life skills that they can take with them in future years. Our apprentices really enjoy the work they do and the opportunities that working with us opens up for them.”
