An agreement to farm better skills

Lantra Sector Skills Council and Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) declared their commitment to agriculture, as they pledged to encourage businesses and individuals to invest in skills in a formal agreement.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) acknowledges the partnership between the two organisations and details an action plan that will help industry meet the challenges they face by boosting workforce development to ensure they have the skills they need. Lantra’s Regional Partnership Manager, Mary Mitchell, said: “Lantra is pleased to have signed this agreement as it commits us both to work together to support businesses through the promotion and delivery of qualifications and high quality learning opportunities. Lantra and STFA will encourage businesses and individuals to ensure they have the necessary skills to be proactive and adapt to the ever-changing environment. This is especially important in agriculture as the industry can so often be influenced policy and regulation. A committed and highly skilled workforce lies at the centre of a sustainable and profitable business and so skills must be top of the agenda.” Lantra and STFA will now work collectively with employers to take part in research to identify industry training and development needs. They will work to secure funding from the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) Skills Development Scheme, to enable projects, such as enhancing skills for women in rural areas, and assisting farmers and younger generations of farmers to acquire the skills to manage the family farm effectively, to be rolled out. The two organisations will also continue to promote and encourage new entrants of all ages by highlighting the excellent career and progression opportunities available in the environmental and land-based sector to ensure a supply of skilled people to the agricultural industry. Angus McCall, Chairman, added: “The STFA and Lantra have already worked together to raise the awareness of the benefits of investing in skills. This Memorandum of Understanding affirms this existing collaborative relationship and is a commitment to develop key actions to secure a profitable future for member tenant farmers and the industry as a whole.” Mary continued: “The MoU is a ‘milestone’, rather than an end point. The action plan will be reviewed continuously as industry ‘drivers’ such as, policy, climate change, regulation, and legislation develop over the coming years.” For more information about Lantra visit www.lantra.co.uk, call 01738 553311 or email lantra.scotland@lantra.co.uk. For information about the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association visit www.tfascotland.org.uk or call 01408 633275. ENDS Issued by: For further information please contact the Lantra Press Office, Anne Haskell, Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 01738 553311 Email Scotland.media@lantra.co.uk Lantra website: www.lantra.co.uk For information on courses: www.lantraonestopshop.co.uk EDITOR’S NOTES • Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector, is licensed by the UK Government to drive forward the new skills, training and business development agenda for the sector. • Lantra represents 17 industries and 1.5 million workers and volunteers in agricultural crops, agricultural livestock, animal care, animal technology, aquaculture, environmental conservation, equine, farriery, fencing, fisheries management, floristry, game and wildlife management, land-based engineering, landscape, production horticulture, trees and timber and veterinary nursing. For more information see www.lantra.co.uk • The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has affiliation with the Tenant Farmers Association in England and is able to offer a wide range of services in conjunction with the TFA and to be part of a strong tenant voice throughout the UK whilst retaining its Scottish identity. It represents and advises members on all aspects of agricultural tenancy and ancillary matters. It aims to improve the professional and technical knowledge of its members, to encourage the flow of new tenancies onto the market and to help the farming industry understand and best apply the existing and new agricultural tenancy legislation.

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