Building Skills for the Future: Apprenticeships in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Why Apprenticeships Matter
The Yorkshire Dales National Park faces a unique challenge: a disproportionately low number of younger, working-age people (18-44). With the long-term conservation and enhancement of this special landscape dependent on a new generation of farmers, land managers and conservation specialists with the right skills.
Attracting apprentices to rural areas isn’t easy. High travel costs, limited housing and the small size of many local businesses making it difficult to offer opportunities. That’s why the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has made apprenticeships a priority.
Meeting the Challenge
The previous National Park Management Plan 2019-23 set an ambitious target: provide at least 20 apprenticeships by 2023. We comfortably met that target, plus supported an additional 8 trainees in a range of roles across the Authority. The Plan guides the area's future, setting long-term visions and objectives for conservation, sustainable development, and community well-being. The Plan is not just for one organisation – it is for the whole National Park.
The new Management Plan (2025-30) builds on this success. By 2030, we aim to collaboratively provide at least 30 apprenticeships or traineeships, alongside wider training in land management, heritage and green skills, including the new skills needed for nature-friendly farming and tackling climate change.
How the Scheme Works
The Authority has supported Apprentice Ranger positions since 2000, recently appointing its 35th Ranger Apprentice. Over the years, we’ve partnered with organisations and funding bodies to deliver opportunities, most notably through the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) Rural Apprenticeship Scheme
This scheme helps young people, often those who grew up in the area, gain hands-on experience with employers in the National Park while studying part-time towards a Level 2 qualification or similar. Currently we have 3 Apprentice Rangers employed through the scheme.
Alan Hulme, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Head of Park Management says
"Opportunities for young people in the Yorkshire Dales can be limited, so it's a real pleasure for the National Park Authority to be part of the scheme. It brings a range of different employers together under one umbrella to provide real working experience and opportunities for our young people across the Dales and I can only see it going from strength to strength."
What Apprentices Can Expect
A Ranger apprenticeship is an 18-month work-based training programme combining college studies with certified courses and practical experience.
Apprentices work 37 hours per week alongside Rangers, and study part-time towards a Level 2 Countryside Worker apprenticeship at Craven College, Skipton.
They earn while they learn, starting at £8.15 per hour, with additional support such as a travel bursary to offset rural transport costs.
Apprentices also have the opportunity to gain certificated skills useful for their job, like chainsaw and brushcutter use, ATV driving, habitat surveying, species identification or trailer training, to name just a few. Each apprentice receives a training bursary of up to £3,500. This allows apprentices to complete not just relevant certified skills but also to specialise in their own chosen areas and build their CV.
Proven Success
The YDMT run scheme has been a huge success to date. 70 young people have benefitted from the Rural Apprenticeship Scheme, gaining experience with respected organisations such as Conservefor, PBA Ecology, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Ernest Cook Trust, Swinton Estate, the Farmer Network Dales & Cumbria and the YDNPA . 85% of apprentices have gone on to gain full-time roles in the environment sector either with their apprenticeship employer or in related fields or choose to go on to higher education. Some have even started their own businesses!
Since its launch in 2009 with the support from People’s Postcode Lottery players, the YDMT Rural Apprenticeship Scheme has helped 70 young people gain experience with respected organisations such as Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Conservefor, PBA Ecology, the Ernest Cook Trust, Swinton Estate, the Farmer Network Dales & Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
Last year, YDMT marked the scheme’s 16th anniversary with an Apprentice Showcase, celebrating its impact and legacy with past and present apprentices, employers and Craven College.
Rural Apprenticeships Yorkshire Dales | YDMT
Beyond Ranger Roles
Inspired by the success of Ranger apprentices the National Park Authority expanded opportunities in 2017 to include roles in Communications, Environmental Conservation, Planning, Business Administration and Historic Environment Teams Many former apprentices now work for other National Parks or conservation organisations. The first Apprentice Ranger still lives and runs his own landscaping business in the Dales.
Charlotte Mudd from Wensleydale recently completed her apprenticeship and works full-time in the Authority’s Communications team: “I would highly recommend an apprenticeship here. Alongside gaining essential experience that employers are looking for, you learn a lot by being around and meeting knowledgeable people and getting an insight into the opportunities that are available. I would really encourage people to apply for the apprentice/trainee roles, especially those with an interest in the area and the natural environment.”
Looking Ahead
Apprenticeships are more than training – they're an investment in the future of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. By creating opportunities for young people, we’re ensuring that the skills needed to care for this special place are passed on to the next generation.
Interested in joining us? Even if there isn't a current vacancy that fits your interests, we welcome enquiries. Contact Vikki Thomas, Head of HR via email.
Find all the articles in the CJS Focus on...Apprenticeships Series here
More from Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority