A lack of engineers, not enough people promoting the land-based industries and a lack of apprentice opportunities for students is a 'ticking time bomb', according to a new survey.
The survey, sent out to agricultural machinery dealers was designed to understand the challenges facing the land-based engineering industry such as, funding of technical education, apprenticeships, up-skilling the work force to meet the demands of modern business practices, attracting new recruits of the right calibre and raising the awareness of the industry and the career opportunities available.
“The survey has revealed very clear themes across the country, which will allow the committee to focus and prioritise appropriate action plans. The industry is starved of both fully and semi-skilled technicians either wanting to work on land-based equipment or having the relevant industry specific experience to support both todays‘and tomorrow’s technologically advanced equipment,” said David Kirschner Land-based Technicians Training Accreditation Co-ordinator.
A number of the region’s key agricultural figures are urging farmers to start taking responsibility for ensuring they have an adequate and reliable workforce for years to come.
The NFU, CLA, purchasing group Anglia Farmers (AF) and Brown & Co are all partners in the EDGE Apprenticeship in Food and Farming project which was set up over 18 months ago to attract high calibre young people into land-based careers.
To date, the scheme has matched about 280 young people and employers but currently some 70 potential apprentices are waiting to find suitable work placements, with more on-farm vacancies needed ahead of the new academic year.
AF chief executive Clarke Willis said: “So far the project has been very successful but we need farmers to step up now and give these young people the first steps towards great careers in agriculture.
“We know that apprentices can bring huge benefits to businesses and we would certainly encourage more employers to offer opportunities.”
“Our industry offers an excellent range of career opportunities for young people these days,” said Nicola Currie, CLA regional director. “EDGE Apprenticeships is doing a good job in promoting the scope and variety on offer as we head into exam results time so to back this up we need as many employers as possible to offer placements to ensure that the rural economy secures its workforce for the future.”
NFU adviser Alex Dinsdale said: “Food and farming is one of East Anglia’s most important industries and it’s crucial that we attract more young people, with the right skills, to become the farmers and growers of tomorrow.
“This is not just about helping someone at the start of their farming career - members who have taken on apprentices are overwhelmingly positive about the benefits it has brought to their business as well.
“We hope this publicity drive encourages more employers to come forward, so that young people who are keen to work in food and farming get the opportunity to do so.”
Greg Smith, Chief Executive of The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, said: “As a champion of agricultural issues in the county we know it’s vital that the industry attracts the region’s brightest and best into the sector. This project is a great way of engaging young people and teaching them about rewarding and exciting careers in farming.”
Charles Whitaker, partner at Brown & Co, added: “Brown and Co are keen to promote a sector which offers exciting and rewarding career opportunities for those with interest within science, innovation and technology in the food, nutrition, land management environmental business that agriculture represents.
“Today's agriculture and associated support industries requires and offers potential to employees, managers and business entrepreneurs from a far wider section of the community than ever before and among our own business and those we provide advice and services to, we are keen to promote and provide assistance to new entrants to agriculture across the spectrum of crop and animal production and downstream services and production businesses in the sector.”
Alastair Taylor, CEO of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, said: “There really is a challenge to lift the profile of landbased engineering in the eyes of many young people. We have to engage with young people, schools, colleges and those advising about careers. We must inspire people considering career options about what an exciting and rewarding career landbased engineering can be.”
Roger Lane-Nott, CEO of AEA commented: “We need well trained technicians to deal with the ever increasingly technical complexities of machinery and farm equipment. We want to be in a position to attract the very best young people to our industry and have recently started designing a new website to help promote careers for those people with an interest in land-based engineering.”
“LETEC is working on a variety of initiatives to promote opportunities that are available in this sector. We are in the process of organising a series of road shows and events to promote the benefits of apprenticeships to machinery dealers and young people thinking about a career in land-based engineering,” said Keith Christian, CEO of BAGMA.
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