Skills development should be industry led. The industry is in the best position to determine their own skills needs, but historically the farming industry has not paid enough attention to skills. This has resulted in a range of issues:
Responsibility for driving up skills and raising the profile of skills development lies with the farming industry. Defra has a role to help make sure government departments and agencies are working effectively together. It also helps to provide the wider regulatory and funding framework for a highly effective, competitive and skilled farming industry to thrive. Skills development is an important element adding to both competitiveness and innovation in agriculture. Defra is working with the industry led AgriSkills Forum which is aims to improving uptake of skills development in agriculture. This includes developing the infrastructure for training and progression to improve the professionalism of the industry and increasing the uptake of apprenticeships to encourage young people into farming.
The AgriSkills Strategy and Action Plan “Towards a New Professionalism” is now being implemented.
Having the right education and training is essential if you are looking to start a career in farming or any other related land-based industry. Also if you are already involved in the sector and are looking to further develop your skills. Training can be provided through:
Approximately £70m (over the life of the programme) is available under the Rural Development Programme for England, for funding for training and skills development for the farming sector including horticulture, food and forestry sectors.
Young people (14-19 year olds) who are interested in learning about working in farming can get involved in the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies.
National Federation of Young Farmers Club offer a range of educational, training and social activities for young people aged 10-26.
Fresh Start is an industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, including those involved in family succession. It aims to help established farmers think about how they can develop their business in the future in the light of CAP reform.
Fresh Start Academies consist of a 12 month training course covering various aspects of farm business management. They offer new entrants a chance to build on existing technical knowledge by improving business skills as well as identifying new business opportunities, business mentoring, and matchmaking with existing farmers.
Farming – skills, education and training/new entrants
Skills development should be industry led. The industry is in the best position to determine their own skills needs, but historically the farming industry has not paid enough attention to skills.This has resulted in a range of issues:
·a lack of demand for important skills that increase competitiveness and profitability (particularly business skills and risk management)
·patchy recording and recognition of existing skills levels
·even though there of plenty of training provisions it can be fragmented and un-coordinated and does not always meet farmers’ needs
·the industry is not making the most of current mainstream skills funding
·because of the lack of clarity over skills development, career prospects and professionalism, too many potential new recruits do not see agriculture as a career of choice
The case for government action
Responsibility for driving up skills and raising the profile of skills development lies with the farming industry. Defra has a role to help make sure government departments and agencies are working effectively together. It also helps to provide the wider regulatory and funding framework for a highly effective, competitive and skilled farming industry to thrive. Skills development is an important element adding to both competitiveness and innovation in agriculture.Defra is working with the industry led AgriSkills Forum which is aims to improving uptake of skills development in agriculture. This includes developing the infrastructure for training and progression to improve the professionalism of the industry and increasing the uptake of apprenticeships to encourage young people into farming.
Latest news
The AgriSkills Strategy and Action Plan “Towards a New Professionalism” is now being implemented. The AgriSkills Forum website has more information.
Key facts and figures
·Agricultural workers are often highly skilled but lack formal qualifications. Evidence suggests technical skills levels are high in the farming industry, though often not formally recognised.
·The key gaps include business and commercial skills. The business benefits of these skills are often not fully appreciated by individual farmers.
·Over the next 10 years (2010-2020) the sector will need 60,000 new entrants. These are likely to require higher skills levels than the workers they will replace.
·Defra’s Farm Business Survey found the business skills most associated with high performing farm businesses are :
-
- risk management
- IT skills
- business planning
- marketing
- management accounting
The current situation and background
Having the right education and training is essential if you are looking to start a career in farming or any other related land-based industry.Also if you are already involved in the sector and are looking to further develop your skills. Training can be provided through:
College and University courses, including Land Based Colleges
Directgov has information on further education, higher education and degree courses. The Landex wbvebsite contains a map of the majority of land based colleges in England and access to individual college websites.
Vocational training
Training is available for new starters in farming through apprenticeships and you can find details of apprenticeships in the farming sector on the Apprenticeships website.
Further advice and guidance is available, whether you are an existing employee, employer or looking to start a land-based career from Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the Land Based Industries.
In addition Natural England provides a series of seminars, conferences, walks, farm visits and workshops covering a wide range of land management and environmental advice.
Further information
Apprenticeships
Lantra
Farmers & Land managers (Natural England website)
LearnDirect: For free, impartial and up-to-date advice on courses and careers in agriculture you can also visit the LearnDirect website or contact its telephone helpline on 0800 100 900.
Rural Development Programme for England
Approximately £70m (over the life of the programme) is available under the Rural Development Programme for England, for funding for training and skills development for the farming sector including horticulture, food and forestry sectors.
Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013
Training for young people
Young people (14-19 year olds) who are interested in learning about working in farming can get involved in the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies.
Diplomas for 14-19 Year Olds/Directgov
National Federation of Young Farmers Club offer a range of educational, training and social activities for young people aged 10-26. For more information and to find your nearest local club, check out their website.
National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs
New Starters/Fresh Start
Fresh Start is an industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, including those involved in family succession, and to help established farmers think about how they can develop their business in the future in the light of CAP reform.
Fresh Start Academies consist of a 12 month training course covering various aspects of farm business management. They offer new entrants a chance to build on existing technical knowledge by improving business skills as well as identifying new business opportunities, business men
Farming – skills, education and training/new entrants
Skills development should be industry led. The industry is in the best position to determine their own skills needs, but historically the farming industry has not paid enough attention to skills. This has resulted in a range of issues:
- a lack of demand for important skills that increase competitiveness and profitability (particularly business skills and risk management)
- patchy recording and recognition of existing skills levels
- even though there of plenty of training provisions it can be fragmented and un-coordinated and does not always meet farmers’ needs
- the industry is not making the most of current mainstream skills funding
- because of the lack of clarity over skills development, career prospects and professionalism, too many potential new recruits do not see agriculture as a career of choice
The case for government action
Responsibility for driving up skills and raising the profile of skills development lies with the farming industry. Defra has a role to help make sure government departments and agencies are working effectively together. It also helps to provide the wider regulatory and funding framework for a highly effective, competitive and skilled farming industry to thrive. Skills development is an important element adding to both competitiveness and innovation in agriculture. Defra is working with the industry led AgriSkills Forum which is aims to improving uptake of skills development in agriculture. This includes developing the infrastructure for training and progression to improve the professionalism of the industry and increasing the uptake of apprenticeships to encourage young people into farming.
Latest news
The AgriSkills Strategy and Action Plan “Towards a New Professionalism” is now being implemented. The AgriSkills Forum website has more information.
Key facts and figures
- Agricultural workers are often highly skilled but lack formal qualifications. Evidence suggests technical skills levels are high in the farming industry, though often not formally recognised.
- The key gaps include business and commercial skills. The business benefits of these skills are often not fully appreciated by individual farmers.
- Over the next 10 years (2010-2020) the sector will need 60,000 new entrants. These are likely to require higher skills levels than the workers they will replace.
- Defra’s Farm Business Survey found the business skills most associated with high performing farm businesses are :
-
- risk management
- IT skills
- business planning
- marketing
- management accounting
The current situation and background
Having the right education and training is essential if you are looking to start a career in farming or any other related land-based industry. Also if you are already involved in the sector and are looking to further develop your skills. Training can be provided through:
College and University courses, including Land Based Colleges
Directgov has information on further education, higher education and degree courses. The Landex wbvebsite contains a map of the majority of land based colleges in England and access to individual college websites.
Vocational training
Training is available for new starters in farming through apprenticeships and you can find details of apprenticeships in the farming sector on the Apprenticeships website.
Further advice and guidance is available, whether you are an existing employee, employer or looking to start a land-based career from Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the Land Based Industries.
In addition Natural England provides a series of seminars, conferences, walks, farm visits and workshops covering a wide range of land management and environmental advice.
Further information
Apprenticeships
Lantra
Farmers & Land managers (Natural England website)
LearnDirect: For free, impartial and up-to-date advice on courses and careers in agriculture you can also visit the LearnDirect website or contact its telephone helpline on 0800 100 900.
Rural Development Programme for England
Approximately £70m (over the life of the programme) is available under the Rural Development Programme for England, for funding for training and skills development for the farming sector including horticulture, food and forestry sectors.
Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013
Training for young people
Young people (14-19 year olds) who are interested in learning about working in farming can get involved in the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies.
Diplomas for 14-19 Year Olds/Directgov
National Federation of Young Farmers Club offer a range of educational, training and social activities for young people aged 10-26. For more information and to find your nearest local club, check out their website.
National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs
New Starters/Fresh Start
Fresh Start is an industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, including those involved in family succession, and to help established farmers think about how they can develop their business in the future in the light of CAP reform.
Fresh Start Academies consist of a 12 month training course covering various aspects of farm business management. They offer new entrants a chance to build on existing technical knowledge by improving business skills as well as identifying new business opportunities, business mentoring, and matchmaking with existing farmers.
Fresh Start [There will shortly be a new industry run web page for Fresh Start. Until then please link to the Fresh Start Home page in the old Defra Website http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmmanage/working/new-entrants/index.htm]
Advice on starting a farming business is also available from the Business Link website.
Business Link
Key publications and documents
Farming – skills, education and training/new entrants
Skills development should be industry led. The industry is in the best position to determine their own skills needs, but historically the farming industry has not paid enough attention to skills. This has resulted in a range of issues:
- a lack of demand for important skills that increase competitiveness and profitability (particularly business skills and risk management)
- patchy recording and recognition of existing skills levels
- even though there of plenty of training provisions it can be fragmented and un-coordinated and does not always meet farmers’ needs
- the industry is not making the most of current mainstream skills funding
- because of the lack of clarity over skills development, career prospects and professionalism, too many potential new recruits do not see agriculture as a career of choice
The case for government action
Responsibility for driving up skills and raising the profile of skills development lies with the farming industry. Defra has a role to help make sure government departments and agencies are working effectively together. It also helps to provide the wider regulatory and funding framework for a highly effective, competitive and skilled farming industry to thrive. Skills development is an important element adding to both competitiveness and innovation in agriculture. Defra is working with the industry led AgriSkills Forum which is aims to improving uptake of skills development in agriculture. This includes developing the infrastructure for training and progression to improve the professionalism of the industry and increasing the uptake of apprenticeships to encourage young people into farming.
Latest news
The AgriSkills Strategy and Action Plan “Towards a New Professionalism” is now being implemented. The AgriSkills Forum website has more information.
Key facts and figures
- Agricultural workers are often highly skilled but lack formal qualifications. Evidence suggests technical skills levels are high in the farming industry, though often not formally recognised.
- The key gaps include business and commercial skills. The business benefits of these skills are often not fully appreciated by individual farmers.
- Over the next 10 years (2010-2020) the sector will need 60,000 new entrants. These are likely to require higher skills levels than the workers they will replace.
- Defra’s Farm Business Survey found the business skills most associated with high performing farm businesses are :
-
- risk management
- IT skills
- business planning
- marketing
- management accounting
The current situation and background
Having the right education and training is essential if you are looking to start a career in farming or any other related land-based industry. Also if you are already involved in the sector and are looking to further develop your skills. Training can be provided through:
College and University courses, including Land Based Colleges
Directgov has information on further education, higher education and degree courses. The Landex wbvebsite contains a map of the majority of land based colleges in England and access to individual college websites.
Vocational training
Training is available for new starters in farming through apprenticeships and you can find details of apprenticeships in the farming sector on the Apprenticeships website.
Further advice and guidance is available, whether you are an existing employee, employer or looking to start a land-based career from Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the Land Based Industries.
In addition Natural England provides a series of seminars, conferences, walks, farm visits and workshops covering a wide range of land management and environmental advice.
Further information
Apprenticeships
Lantra
Farmers & Land managers (Natural England website)
LearnDirect: For free, impartial and up-to-date advice on courses and careers in agriculture you can also visit the LearnDirect website or contact its telephone helpline on 0800 100 900.
Rural Development Programme for England
Approximately £70m (over the life of the programme) is available under the Rural Development Programme for England, for funding for training and skills development for the farming sector including horticulture, food and forestry sectors.
Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013
Training for young people
Young people (14-19 year olds) who are interested in learning about working in farming can get involved in the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies.
Diplomas for 14-19 Year Olds/Directgov
National Federation of Young Farmers Club offer a range of educational, training and social activities for young people aged 10-26. For more information and to find your nearest local club, check out their website.
National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs
New Starters/Fresh Start
Fresh Start is an industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, including those involved in family succession, and to help established farmers think about how they can develop their business in the future in the light of CAP reform.
Fresh Start Academies consist of a 12 month training course covering various aspects of farm business management. They offer new entrants a chance to build on existing technical knowledge by improving business skills as well as identifying new business opportunities, business mentoring, and matchmaking with existing farmers.
Fresh Start [There will shortly be a new industry run web page for Fresh Start. Until then please link to the Fresh Start Home page in the old Defra Website http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmmanage/working/new-entrants/index.htm]
Advice on starting a farming business is also available from the Business Link website.
Business Link
Key publications and documents
toring, and matchmaking with existing farmers.
Fresh Start [There will shortly be a new industry runweb page for Fresh Start. Until then please link to the Fresh Start Home page in the old Defra Website http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmmanage/working/new-entrants/index.htm]
Advice on starting a farming business is also available from the Business Link website.
Business Link
Key publications and documents