Apprentice soars to success at awards

An apprentice at Derby College Group has won a prestigious national award recognising her dedication, especially in avian conservation studies.

Heather-Ann Pedley was crowned Learner of the Year: Best Animal Care and Management Apprentice at the Land-based and Environmental Learner Awards 2023.

The awards, organised by training body Lantra, celebrated land-based and environmental education and recognised future talent.

Heather-Ann is carrying out her apprenticeship in the bird team at Chester Zoo.

As part of her work, she has had the opportunity to study at a bird rescue centre in Java, Indonesia, where she supported the monitoring of endangered birds, both at the centre and in the surrounding rainforest.

Chester Zoo is keen to inspire more young people to take up a career in conservation.

The zoo has partnered with Derby College Group to manage the recruitment of new students and to provide full accreditation, including all formal training elements and assessment.

Stacey Higgs, curriculum manager at the college, said: “Heather-Ann is so dedicated to her studies and has such a love of birds.

“We have loved watching Heather-Anne grow and develop over the last year and cannot wait to see how she continues to progress during the final stages of her apprenticeship.”