Opening doors to rural careers at Floors Castle
Opening doors to rural careers at Floors Castle
Roxburghe Estates primes local students for a bright future at its Rural Skills Day
The Scottish Borders is home to a remarkable variety of careers that help shape our landscapes, preserve our heritage and support thriving rural communities.
From forestry and farming to horticulture, hospitality, conservation and estate management, these professions offer rewarding opportunities to develop valuable skills, work closely with nature and make a lasting contribution to the places we call home.
To help young people discover the breadth of opportunities available on their doorstep, Roxburghe Estates recently welcomed S2 pupils from Kelso High School to Floors Castle for its inaugural Rural Skills Day, offering an inspiring introduction to the many careers that exist across the estate and the wider rural sector.
Informing important life decisions
The event was developed in response to a growing concern shared by employers across the South of Scotland about shortages in both traditional roles such as stonemasons, dry stone wallers, farm employees and foresters, through to the more conventional roles as gardeners, carpenters and chefs.
While higher education provides an excellent route for many young people, there are also countless skilled and rewarding careers that rely on vocational training, apprenticeships and practical experience. Yet many pupils have limited exposure to these opportunities as they begin making important decisions about their future studies and career paths.
For Jaap Röell, Managing Director of Roxburghe Estates, the answer was clear:
“Society is very geared towards promoting higher education and social media careers, but the reality is, not everyone can be a social media influencer, scientist or high-level manager.
“There are many excellent vocational careers that are vital to society and deeply rewarding for those who pursue them, moreover, these are not jobs that can be taken over by AI.
“We wanted to show pupils some of the opportunities that exist within the rural sector and help them understand that there are exciting, secure career paths available much closer to home than they may realise.”
Working closely with Developing Young Workforce, Roxburghe Estates welcomed pupils to spend the day exploring the wide variety of professions that help keep a modern rural estate running.
Throughout the day, pupils rotated between seven interactive stations, each designed to showcase a different aspect of life and work across the estate.
Farming skills
At the farming station, local contractor James Bell introduced pupils to modern arable farming, displaying a combine harvester, tractor and drill while explaining how crops such as wheat, oats, barley and oilseed rape are grown and transformed into the products we use every day.
Nearby, shepherds Claire Bellamy and David Milburn brought sheep and working sheepdogs to Floors Castle, giving pupils a fascinating insight into livestock management and demonstrating the close relationship between farmers, animals and the wider landscape. The sheepdog demonstrations proved particularly memorable, offering a practical example of the skills and knowledge required within the sector.
Castle services, maintenance and restoration
Inside Floors Castle itself, pupils discovered from operational assistant Alison Barber that caring for a historic landmark requires a wide range of specialist skills. The session explored the ongoing roof restoration project and highlighted the roles played by architects, planners, scaffolders and stonemasons. Pupils also learned about the visitor support teams, housekeepers, chefs and conservation specialists who help maintain both the castle and its collections while welcoming thousands of visitors each year.
Gardens and grounds
The gardens and grounds team provided an introduction to horticultural careers, showcasing the machinery, glasshouses and growing spaces that support the estate’s renowned gardens and grounds. Pupils were able to learn more about the expertise required to care for and develop one of the Scottish Borders’ most celebrated horticultural attractions from our head gardener, Kate McClorey and her team.
Gamekeeping
At the gamekeeping station, experienced keepers shared insights into habitat management, wildlife conservation and the day to day responsibilities of working on the estate. Pupils also heard from our head keeper Barrie Neish and trainee keeper Archie Green, who spoke about their own routes into the profession and the opportunities available for young people considering a similar path.
Forestry
Forestry offered another hands-on experience, with pupils watching timber harvesting operations and learning about the processes involved in managing woodland sustainably from our forestry manager Seth Bird. Demonstrations included tree felling and the use of specialist machinery to transport and stack timber, helping pupils understand the role forestry plays within the rural economy.
Stonemasonry and Joinery
Traditional crafts were also represented through stonemasonry and joinery demonstrations. Pupils watched skilled craftspeople Adam Lees and Calum Thomson shape stone and construct timber structures, providing a valuable insight into trades that remain essential to the preservation of historic buildings and the maintenance of estates throughout the country.
Opportunities for everyone
As well as highlighting career opportunities, the event was designed to be inclusive and accessible. Organisers adapted activities where needed to ensure all pupils could take part and enjoy the experience, reflecting the estate’s commitment to making learning opportunities available to everyone.
The Rural Skills Day builds upon Roxburghe Estates’ longstanding commitment to supporting education and the wider community. Through the Fallago Environment Fund, the estate has proudly supported the Border Union Agricultural Society Schools Day for many years, helping primary school children learn more about the countryside and where their food comes from. Floors Castle also hosts a variety of family and educational events throughout the year that celebrate the heritage, landscape and culture of the Scottish Borders.
As one of the region’s most diverse rural businesses, Roxburghe Estates believes that creating opportunities for future generations is essential to the long term prosperity of both the estate and the wider Borders community. By helping young people understand the breadth of careers available within the rural economy, the Rural Skills Day aimed to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals, craftspeople and custodians of the countryside.
Following the success of this inaugural event, plans are already underway to build on the momentum in the years ahead. The long term ambition is not only to continue hosting the event at Floors Castle, but also to help create a model that can be adopted by other estates and organisations across the region.
After all, the future of the Scottish Borders depends on the people who will care for its landscapes, heritage and communities for generations to come.
