n By Keith Hatch


It has long been understood there is a problem recruiting young people to pursue a career in agriculture, and that a lack of skills is having an increasing impact across the sector.


Last year the government commissioned the “Independent review into labour shortages in the food supply chain,” which highlighted the importance of apprenticeships as a means of improving the skills of the agricultural workforce.


At the Labour Party conference, this September, the new government announced a raft of reforms to the apprenticeships system that it hopes will improve opportunities for young people.


This included a new growth and skills levy, replacing the current apprenticeship levy, along with foundation apprenticeships to encourage young people, not quite ready for levels 2 or 3 courses, to start their learning journey.


These reforms will be delivered by the newly formed Skills England. Skills England is being established in phases “to create a responsive and collaborative skills system” and unions will be involved along with central and local government, businesses and training providers in “strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system”.


These changes are desperately needed to encourage new workers to start careers in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.


In January this year Lantra, a leading provider of training for land-based industries, produced a report, “Bringing new entrants into farming” which called for “a new approach to widen the uptake of apprenticeships”.


Launching the report at the 2024 Oxford Farming Conference, Lantra’s chair of trustees, Dr David Llewellyn CBE, said, “Through our research we found there is a high appetite for apprenticeships on farms but nine out of 10 employers need help and support. Often first-time employers, these farm businesses are understandably challenged by the recruitment and employment of an apprentice.


“The industry would benefit from an intermediary body to take on this burden, helping farmers become effective mentors and ultimately,


employers. This approach could de-risk apprenticeships for small and micro employers.’’


The proposed Foundation Apprenticeships would tie in with a Lantra recommendation for an alternative pathway into farming to meet the needs of small farm businesses.


David commented at the time that, “The academic requirements of apprenticeships (Level 2 English and maths) are seen as a barrier to entry for many people who are otherwise well- suited to farm work.”


More recently the BBC reported from the Dairy Show at the Bath and West Showground, highlighting a shortage of young people entering the dairy sector.


The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) provides advice and resources to help develop skills and lifelong learning in farming.


After speaking to farmers at the Show, Ruthie Peterson, Careers Manager with TIAH, said, “These farmers wanted to be able to source future staff from apprenticeship schemes at local ag colleges but said they had so far struggled trying to do this.


“It is a real struggle to get young people to think of dairy farming.”


One reason that the TIAH has identified is that many people are put off exploring a career in farming due to “out-dated myths”. Farming is seen as long hours and poor pay in bad working conditions, but many farms now need people that not only love working outdoors or with animals.


Modern farms use robotic systems to milk cows, monitor land with drones and gather data to reduce carbon emissions.


Ruthie added that, “The technologies involved are incredible, and we need highly skilled people to operate them.”


John Burbidge, chair of Unite’s Tolpuddle Branch, feels it is about more than recruiting apprentices, it is also about retention.


John said, “One of the key problems that we hear about is keeping apprentices. Pay is so low that it is difficult to retain young people to see through the whole course.


27 uniteLANDWORKER Autumn 2024


“Apprenticeships can be a great way to get a foot in the door when it comes to working in the countryside, but people can be abused when it comes to poor pay.”


John feels the current system is “a completely flawed model” and will only really work when apprentices are offered £13 or £14 an hour.


John added, “Hopefully the new government will realise the importance of this and change the apprentice rate soon.”


The problem of apprentices not finishing their courses can have a huge knock- on effect on learning providers as they can only draw down funding upon completion.


Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester recently stopped running agricultural apprenticeships following a merger with Weymouth College. This leaves no dedicated agricultural apprenticeship provider based in Dorset, though they do still run relevant Diploma and T-Level courses.


John highlighted another issue around training and competency.


John explained. “There can be massive holes in training when it comes to skills competency in agriculture. Apart from the use of chemicals and herbicides there isn’t much in the way of required training and assessment to use most equipment.”


“For example, chainsaws. Though there is very good chainsaw training and qualifications, you can also buy a chainsaw off the shelf and use it for domestic use without any training at all. So on a farm people are often shown the basics and left to crack on with it.


“I would really like to see a card system for agricultural workers, similar to the ones that are standard in construction.”


In many sectors Unite has a long history of supporting high quality apprenticeships through negotiating better pay and even providing Unite tool kits to apprentices in engineering.


Apprentices can also join Unite at a special discounted rate.


With the urgent need to recruit young people and train them with the skills they will need for a career in farming and forestry, it is essential that the apprenticeships of the future are accessible and equip them to be the land workers of tomorrow.


Alamy


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