Read more below to find out about our Virtual Rural Weeks.

The Virtual Rural Week (VRW) was developed in 2020 in the face of COVID-19 restrictions. As the first lockdown took hold it was clear our planned Rural Week programme at Bicton College would at least need to be postponed, or very likely cancelled. The success of the Rural Week programme meant many of the 2020 places were already allocated. To enable HighGround to continue providing support to Service Leavers and Veterans, as much content as was reasonable to do so was moved online.

Many aspects of a Rural Week, visits, hands-on and face-to-face interaction clearly cannot be replicated online. However, some subjects are already delivered by presentation during a Rural Week and certain aspects of other subjects could be adapted to present online. Representing circa 70% of Land-Based Sector employment and self-employment opportunities a VRW now covers the following subjects:

Agriculture – Arable and Livestock – www.velcourt.co.uk
Landscaping – Commercial and Domestic – www.bali.org.uk, www.golandscape.co.uk
Rural Estate Management – www.bowleroakfield.co.uk
Arboriculture – www.hi-line.co.uk/training
Forestry – Forestry England, confor.org.uk
Environmental Conservation – www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Heritage Gardening – www.bali.org.uk

A VRW typically runs from Monday to Wednesday three sessions each morning with breaks between each session. The presenters have supported the Rural Week programme previously so understand the information and detail Service Leavers and Veterans require. Equally they will take questions and provide advice.

Click here to view a typical VRW timetable.

From an attendee’s perspective this is an opportunity to start developing an understanding of Land-Based Sector employment and self-employment opportunities. To understand career paths in particular sectors, and entry level requirements such as tickets required for chainsaw or telehandler operation, for example. And of course, the opportunity to start networking.

Attendance of a VRW does not preclude attendance of a Rural Week at a later date, and previous VRW attendees have already signed up for a Rural Week.

You can view the VRW Joining Instructions here.

What happens after VRW?

We have altered our follow-up Friday function which we use for our Rural Weeks programme, and the Monday following VRW Anna or Tim will by arrangement, call each VRW participant to discuss next steps, answer any questions and arrange more introductions.

Due to CV-19 restrictions work experience opportunities are currently not possible but as the old military adage goes, Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom if ever wasted…..