Richard Gilden, 18, who is in his first year of a two-year National Diploma in countryside management at Easton College.

Gamekeeper

Answers supplied by Ian Revill, gamekeeping lecturer at Easton College. Easton College provides training for gamekeepers and others in the land-based sector. This ranges from taster courses for 14 to 16-year-olds (through their schools) through National Diploma or National Vocational Qualifications to specific short courses (like chainsaw or ATV driving) for those already employed as gamekeepers. We also run our own estate as a shoot to support our teaching and have a deer park and fishery.

What does the job entail?
A gamekeeper is employed to manage an area of land for game shooting. The main aspects of the job are habitat improvement, pest and predator management and, on most estates, the rearing and releasing of game-birds. The ability to organise shooting days and communicate with everyone — from paying guests who come shooting to the general public — is also important. The conservation management of other wildlife is becoming ever more important, due partly to the way in which subsidies are paid to landowners.

What skills and qualifications are needed?
This industry requires technical skills which are part of the range of qualifications available, but employers require references which support your commitment, attitude and ability to work hard as these are seen as often more important than “paper” qualifications in their own right. Appropriate courses involve work experience and practical work for this reason. A good way to get involved is to go beating on a local shoot at weekends or help with rearing during the summer holiday.

What type of person will fit in?
You need to have a real passion for the countryside, for wildlife and for birds. Many gamekeepers are keen shots themselves, but a career as a keeper usually means that you are working so that other people can shoot. Most keepers will be very involved with training and working gundogs, and someone who enjoys this will often find this the most rewarding part of the job. The other requirement is the ability to spend a lot of time working on your own, but still be able to liaise effectively with your employer, his guests, farm staff and an army of beaters.

What are the pluses and minuses of the job?
The job can involve long hours and working outside in all weathers. There can be a lot of pressure from employers to produce quality, high birds on shoot days, but there are a lot of factors that are outside of your control, such as the weather, farm or forestry activities or public disturbance to your birds. Many people do not appreciate the conservation benefits that your work creates and, despite the fact that the majority of your work is really conservation work, you will have problems from those who think that shooting is cruel. Increasingly, gamekeepers are being pro-active about educating the public and attitudes towards access to the countryside are having to change.

What opportunities exist for career progression?
The largest estates will still have a head keeper who supervises others, but for many the profession is made up of “single-handed” keepers who work largely by themselves. To these people career progression is usually seen as moving to bigger or more prestigious estates. Many youngsters keen to make a start in the industry start off working on a game farm where, although they are not actually running a shoot, they are rearing birds and continuing to learn important skills. Because the game farms supply other keepers with their birds, this networking can often lead to the offer of a job for the right person.

What can I expect to earn?
Salaries vary, but can start from the minimum wage on some game farms. Because the job comes with various benefits, the salaries can vary widely, but an average salary would be around £10,000 per year. If a house or vehicle comes with the job this may be increased or reduced accordingly. On some estates, tips from satisfied shooting or stalking guests can
be a considerable addition to the basic wage.

Any hints on getting a job in this area?
It can be very difficult to get started as a gamekeeper as employers want skills, experience and a proven track record of being able to do the job. In the past, many jobs were passed from father to son, but this is now quite rare. College courses can be a really good way to get started. Courses such as NVQs are based on an apprenticeship working with an experienced supervisor and these will give you both the practical experience and the contacts which you will need. Easton College can be contacted on
(01603) 731200. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation maintains a register of suitable qualified game-keepers looking for positions, and
employers can use this list if they have a vacancy.