MPs targeted by food-supply skills EDM

MPs are being asked to sign an Early Day Motion calling upon the Government to address skills shortages in the food sector and recognise the importance of the food supply sector in its policy making. Andrew George MP and sector skills councils Lantra, Improve Limited and Skillsmart Retail launched the EDM following a parliamentary reception addressing the issue last week. Nearly 100 MPs, civil servants and industry leaders attended the event on the Terrace at the House of Commons. Speaking at the event Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Jim Paice said: “It’s important we get the right skill set for today and also for tomorrow. I want to see this industry raise its profile as one with a huge economic impact; and as an industry of huge social importance.” Speakers also included: Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, the Black Farmer; Justin King, President of the IGD and Group Chief Executive Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd; Ross Warburton MBE, President of the Food and Drink Federation and Executive Director of Warburtons; and David Linton, Managing Director of Fylde Fresh and Fabulous. Peter Martin is Chief Executive of Lantra the sector skills council for the land-based and environmental industries. He said; “Many policy makers emphasise industries such as manufacturing, IT and bio-technologies - they need to include the food supply industries as well.” “We employ one-in-seven of the working population and we’re the largest manufacturing sector in the UK economy.” “We need to make the argument for our place as a priority sector which is central to meeting the challenges of climate change and a growing global demand for food. All of this means we need highly-skilled people and we must take their training and development seriously.” The EDM reads: That this House notes that it is vital that the entire food supply chain has the skills and business efficiency to meet the demand for food security resulting from a rising global and domestic population and the effects of climate change; is concerned that the skills needs of the food production, processing, manufacturing and retailing industries are not being recognised; calls for the value placed on these industries by the Government to match the value of their contributions to the UK economy and food supply; and further calls for future Government food strategies to recognise the importance of the entire food supply network as well as the skills gaps and shortages which need to be addressed. Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George who proposed the EDM said: "Food security, food traceability and food miles, not to mention food quality, are all high on the UK political agenda. We can only step up to the mark as a nation if we have the skills in the sector. Whilst priorities are being directed to university graduates, the essential skills required and vocational qualifications needed throughout the modern food supply network must not be overlooked". Ends Further information The EDM can be found at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=41781&SESSION=905 Contact Richard Fern – Lantra – 02476 858418 Note to editors Lantra • Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for land-based and environmental industries, working to ensure these businesses access the training, qualifications, skills and knowledge they need. • An independent UK organisation, Lantra works with employers and the UK’s governments to address the skills and productivity needs of approximately 230 businesses (one in every ten UK businesses) in: agriculture; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land-based engineering; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber and veterinary nursing. • By working together with the sector, Lantra leads research on skills issues and business needs, sets national standards and develops qualifications to meet modern business needs and help businesses grow through skills. • For more information see www.lantra.co.uk. Improve Improve is part of the network of sector skills councils established by the government to take the lead in driving up skills in the workplace in order to promote higher productivity and stronger competitiveness for UK businesses in the global market. Funded primarily by the government, sector skills councils are also supported by employers whose needs they represent when stimulating change among the providers of education and skills. Sector skills councils work closely with employers to promote greater commitment to improving skills in their workforces, and with schools, colleges, universities, and private training organisations to improve the provision of basic skills training and to make vocational and occupational training more relevant to the modern commercial climate. For further information, go to www.improve-skills.co.uk. Skillsmart Retail Skillsmart Retail is the Sector Skills Council for Retail. Part-funded by Government and led by retailers, it aims to be the recognised authority on retailers’ skills needs and priorities. Its mission is to drive a step change in skills levels in retail by: • Making a compelling case for the formal recognition of retail skills • Uniting retailers to simplify and improve access to the skills system • Improving the quality of new recruits into the retail sector • Raising the skills levels of the existing workforce in retail operations www.skillsmartretail.com For more information contact Ed Holmes on 0207 462 5576 or email ed.holmes@skillsmartretail.com

Tags: