LANTRA HELPS BBC TV HIGHLIGHT YOUNG FARMER'S CAREER ASPIRATIONS
When Lantra Sector Skills Council alerted the nation that we will need to recruit a staggering 60,000 more people into agriculture by 2017 just to maintain current workforce levels, it caught the eye of the producers at BBC One Television's popular Countryfile programme. They decided to cover it by telling the compelling story of 19 year old aspiring farmer, Gareth Barlow.
It's clear the challenge of attracting so many new entrants into agriculture, even in times of recession, will be no simple task but one the industry is gearing up to tackle. The irony is Yorkshireman Gareth is already hooked and has built up a small flock of 33 sheep. But he now needs to find a way of acquiring land so he can farm, or come under the wing of one of the industry's older, experienced farmers before they retire. Countryfile, which attracts a Sunday night audience of some 5.5 million viewers, took young Gareth to meet farmers to pick up some good advice in his bid to enter the industry. Although not from an agricultural background, Gareth is determined to be one of the 60,000 new entrants into farming that Lantra said the industry will need. You can learn more about the issues involved in attracting such young blood into agriculture on BBC Countryfile's website where you can catch up with Gareth’s story. (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t0bv) ENDS Notes to Editor Lantra Press Office – contact Aaron Zelmer on 02476 858411 or email media@lantra.co.uk • Lantra's Skills Assessment research identifies that agriculture has an ageing workforce, with many UK farmers close to retirement. 60,000 new entrants are needed to replace this retiring generation in the years to come. • The full Skills Assessment report, as well as nation and industry-specific summaries of the findings, are available at www.lantra.co.uk/skills-assessment. • The report provides an up-to-date assessment of skills within the environmental and land-based sector across the UK. • 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.
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