| Skills & Professional Development |
Skills are at the core of improving business productivity and competitiveness. Ensuring that people have the right skills and the ability to access training to acquire them is essential. Furthermore, skills should be delivered through a demand-led approach, facilitated by a new culture of learning, and promote an appetite for improved skills amongst individuals and employers. As a region and in the farming and food industries, it is important that employers and individuals engage and invest more in skills development.
The research undertaken in development of the Improve and Lantra Sector Skills Agreements (SSA) has assessed the region’s skills demand for the industry. Both SSAs indicate that, over the next five years, more managers (currently more than 25% of the workforce) will be needed, and in order for them to respond to the changes in markets, legislation, consumer expectations and technology, higher skills levels will be required. However, the reality is that the perception of those who need leadership and management development in the sector is lower than across the economy as a whole.
Whilst there exists a range of training providers in the South West region, there is a need to strengthen this network in terms of local coverage. Additionally, options for learning should be more accessible and bespoke; this could include more work-based learning. Both the food & drink and land-based & environmental sectors have an increasing need for an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) business programme to address the growing overseas nationals workforce.
| Defra Learning, Skills and Knowledge Review |
One of the key elements of Defra's Learning, Skills and Knowledge Review, published in March 2004, was recognition of the need to ensure better co-ordination of advice services to rural businesses. Defra envisages that they will develop closer links with the Small Business Service/Business Links operators, to improve rural penetration and cover delivery by other key players. Lantra and Improve (the relevant Sector Skills Councils) will identify the detailed skills needs of farming and food businesses in the South West by location (regionally or sub regionally), volume and time (present to 2014) and annually review this information. They are working closely with the Learning Skills Council.
The key role for the Sector Skills Councils (Lantra and Improve) and their Industry Action Plans is to act as the conduit between demand and supply, effectively defining needs and taking policy into practice.
The South West Food and Drink Skills Network was set up as a result of intensive research into the needs, within the food & drink manufacturing and processing sector.
It fulfills the requirement for quality skills training support and that there needed to be a way of obtaining expertise in certain areas such as product development, supply chain mechanisms and management strategies. The Network assists local small to medium food and drink businesses by putting into place opportunities and methods needed to achieve this.
For more information contact South West Food and Drink on 01392 878 333
www.swfoodanddrinkskills.co.uk
The Land-based & Environmental and Manufacturing Diplomas set a new direction for 14 to 19 year olds in the education system. These Diplomas ensure a further career pathway for young people to be encouraged into the sector.
Lantra SSA Stages 1-3: South West Consultation Document (January 2006)
Lantra SSA consultation response - by SW CoRE (April 2006)
View the Lantra Sector Skills Review document
For more information on Lantra please contact Lyndsay Bird, Lantra’s South West regional representative on 01647 433195 or email Lyndsay.Bird@Lantra.co.uk.
| Women at Work |
Women at Work is a training scheme funded by Lantra and run in conjunction with Duchy College.
The programme targets employed women (including self employed and those in part time employment) who wish to work or progress in non-traditional occupational areas within agriculture, fencing, environmental conservation, game and wildlife management, horticulture, land-based engineering, landscape and trees and timber industries.
The programme aims to impact positively on the gender balance within the sector, and to increase female participation in training by developing personalised, tailored training plans. The programme is aimed at employers who understand the importance of training and development in the workplace, and who have a strong drive to support and motivate their staff. The training can be tailored to the individual needs of the participant and can vary from a course in business administration / I.T. training to a course in tractor driving. The programme will be underpinned by employer mentoring and one-to-one support from a Skills Coach.
Please contact Tim Prior or Nell Brigham on: 01579 372349 and click here for more information
| Regional Skills Partnership |
The South West Regional Skills Partnership is the key regional decision making body for skills in the south west, offering leadership and strategic direction for all activity. It unites the entire business and learning community to create a demand-led approach to tackle the challenges and priorities of the South West skills base. Their website is an invaluable resource for all those with an interest in the skills economy of the South West.
| Skills for Life South West |
The Skills for Life Unit is co-ordinating the regional Skills for Life strategy to ensure the South West’s needs in Skills for Life are met. Skills for Life is all about improving adult literacy, language and numeracy skills. Raising standards in basic skills, including reading and writing, speaking and listening, and maths, will enable people across the South West to achieve their potential at work, and within their community, helping to build a vibrant and prosperous economy.
| Skills and Learning Intelligence Module (SLIM) |
The Skills and Learning Intelligence Module (SLIM) exists to bring information and intelligence on skills and learning to policy makers and practitioners across the South West. As a 'module' of the South West Observatory, it aims to enable programmes and projects that promote skills and learning to be informed by the best available evidence.
This site provides access to growing archives of labour market research, networks, data, news and good practice, and information.
Other related links
The land based Colleges in the South West region (SWELBC)
England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) Vocational Training Scheme (VTS)
DEFRA Learning, Skills, and Knowledge Programme
Last Updated 31Apr08