TALC (The Agroecological Learning Collective) is gathering evidence about the current demand for skilled workers on farms, together with details about what a relevant apprenticeship or qualification should include: and we need your input. Could you spare a few moments to fill in our template letter of support (attached), and share your experiences of trying to recruit workers on your farm?
We want to show the UK Government that there is a pressing need for skilled workers, who have good practical knowledge and experience of core areas on mixed farms integrating livestock and horticulture. Key skills are currently missing from existing qualifications, and there is an overall lack of emphasis on the hands-on practicalities of working on an agroecological or regenerative system. We are exploring the option of altering the current Level 4 Assistant Farm Manager apprenticeship to include these critical competencies; as well as the possibility of developing a new Level 3 Agroecological/Regenerative Farm Supervisor apprenticeship.
The main thing we need is a few minutes of your time to fill in the attached letter and send it to us; or you can write your own version detailing any essential missing skills you need on your farm. Please describe the job roles you are recruiting for or developing, and why current training channels such as the current Assistant Farm Manager apprenticeship don’t meet your needs.
If you are a training provider there is also a template letter for you to share your support and thoughts with us.
We are also collating numbers of potential host farms for apprentices: if you are interested in this THERE IS NO OBLIGATION to sign up to any scheme or commit to taking on an apprentice. We are simply gathering letters of support and numbers to take to Skills England so we can show the industry demand for appropriately skilled farm workers.