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Introduction to Farming and Rural Skills

Location

Dumfries House estate, Ayrshire, Scotland

Course dates

Monday 13th October – Friday 28th November 2025

Taster day

Tuesday 7th October

About the Programme

The King’s Foundation at Dumfries House is offering an industry-standard Farming and Rural Skills training programme, as part of the MacRobert Farming and Rural Skills Centre. The course will include:

  • Introduction to the knowledge and practical experiences in farming and rural skills.
  • Insight into the local and national industry.
  • Four weeks in-house training.
  • Opportunity for a two-week placement.
  • One week employability development.

What we offer:

  • A seven-week training programme, including a two-week placement at no cost to participants.
  • Hands-on training with livestock and sheep.
  • Full farm PPE provided.
  • Transport available from Cumnock bus station/Auchinleck train station, at no cost to participants.
  • Training in a purpose-built farm setting on a working estate farm.
Our rare-breed sheep Dumfries House

How to apply

Applications for this intake have now closed. Please check back to this page for any updates about future iterations of this programme.

Interview dates: Week beginning Monday 29th September. Successful candidates will be invited to a taster day on Tuesday 7th October.

The course will begin on Monday 13th October and run until Friday 28th November 2025.

Who can take part?

Any adult aged 18+ including:

  • Those at any stage in their career, looking for a career change.
  • DWP clients who would like to find employability in the agriculture industry.
  • College leavers interested in getting into the agriculture and rural skills industry.
Working with our sheep

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