The UK faces significant employee and skills shortages in the agricultural and land-based industries over the next decade, according to a report launched at an event hosted by Baroness Young.
The land-based and environmental industries currently employ approximately 1.3 million people in 230,000 businesses across the UK.
An ageing workforce and growth in some industries means increased employment opportunities across the sector, some 595,000 forecast between now and 2020.
There is also an increasing need to attract more young people into jobs and careers within land-based and environmental industries.
To support this employers want more from the curriculum in terms of relevant subject matter and focus on the skills needed by the industry, with the promotion of the right qualifications, training and career paths to young people and adults.
The report also highlights the need to recognise the professionalism and skills of the sector’s workforce, as well as promoting and capturing continued professional development.
This supports key national strategies which raise this, including the UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, Defra Future of Farming Review and the implementation of the Farming Regulation Taskforce recommendations.
Lantra’s Chair Valerie Owen said: “This report outlines key issues for such businesses nationally, and how we plan to support employers tackling these challenges through training and qualifications, skills recording tools and information portals.”
Without essential government funding, it’s ever more important that small businesses (accounting for 95% of the sector) continue to work in partnership with Lantra to ensure consistency and cohesion across the industries.
