“As farm businesses adapt to market requirements or legislative pressures, Lantra is ideally positioned to ensure that the training needs of farm businesses are met. Through our relationship with Lantra, we will jointly look towards ensuring that a skilled, well-trained Scottish agricultural workforce is well placed to keep our industry moving forward.”
At the Royal Highland Show we highlighted various examples of our partnership working, including the new rural skills qualification for schools. The new National Progression Award (NPA), developed through working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), NFU Scotland, other stakeholders and training providers, will encourage school children to take up a career in the land-based sector. The Rural Skills for Work Toolkit, launched at the show, is designed to help employers, farmers, teachers, parents and pupils, better understand the requirements of participating in school-based vocational work.
Willie Fergusson said: “Through this agreement Lantra and NFU Scotland will work jointly to support the promotion and delivery of qualifications, high quality learning and business advice, leading to improved business performance and the development of a skilled and professional workforce.”
“Do we really want to be remembered as the generation that lost the ability to feed itself?” was a fear voiced by Lantra Skills Ambassador Sandy Thomson, from West Park Farm, Aberfeldy, who has worked extensively with schools In an effort to not let this happen, he was supporting the launch of Lantra's the new agriculture careers leaflet. His own experience tells him that many from non-farming backgrounds can carve out good careers for themselves in the industry.
Annabel Goldie, MSP, a visitor to Lantra's stand, showed great interest in our activities; including the freshly launched careers brochure. This new agricultural careers brochure, sent out to Scotland's careers advisors, will assist new entrants, teachers, career advisers actively promote career routes and progression opportunities in land-based sector. Copies will be available at Scottish events or by requests to the Scottish office.
