Welcome to the NEW Lantra e-bulletin

2007 has been a busy and successful year for Lantra, especially with the launch of the Sector Skills Agreement across the UK which continues to form the basis of our work within the sector. Below are the top stories demonstrating some of Lantra’s work with industry:

Successful project comes to an end in South Yorkshire
The South Yorkshire Rural Skills (SYRS) Project comes to an end on the 31st December and has been a huge success over the last 5 years. Read here to find out what happens next.

Lantra CourseFinder is launched in Northern Ireland
A new service has been launched to help businesses find courses and training quickly and easily.. Read more…

Thousands visit new Lantra One Stop Shop for Training
There have been more than 9000 searches made on the online Lantra One Stop for training since its launch at the end of June 2007. Read more…

Lantra Land-based Learner of the Year Awards
Land-based Learner of the Year Awards 2007 announced at the Winter Fair by S4C’s Alun Elidyr. Read more…

The National Student Database
Lantra develops the National Student Database using its On-line Competence Framework system. Click here to find out how the database will benefit the sector.

Research within the sector
Lantra is continuing to undertake some key research to provide valuable data to inform Lantra's work and help industry and stakeholders provide the products and services needed to boost skills levels across the UK. Read more…

Also featuring in Issue 1:

 

Message from the Chief Executive
A look back at the successes of 2007 and what is coming up in 2008 with Lantra’s Chief Executive, Peter Martin. Read more…

UK Team strikes gold in Japan
The UK team made a big impression at the 2007 WorldSkills competition held in Japan in November. Florist, Natalie Stanyer and landscape gardeners Keith Chapman and Tim Lancaster take home Medallions of Excellence from the competition. Click here to read more…

England

Successful project comes to an end in South Yorkshire
The South Yorkshire Rural Skills (SYRS) Project comes to an end on the 31st December and has been a huge success over the last 5 years. Read here to find out what happens next.

Equine Health and Welfare: To Educate is to Understand
How can you better prepare for the issues involved with caring for horses in the 21st century? This question was the focus of a conference for the equine industry in early December. Read more…

Employers take centre stage in London skills plan consultation
Mayor Ken Livingstone’s London Skills and Employment Board (LSEB), has launched a strategy designed to meet the current and future skills needs of London’s employers and is keen to hear your views as part of a current consultation. Click here to take part.

Yorkshire Rural Academy
The Academy has recently been launched and offers an exciting new focus for training. Click here to find out how the Academy can help you.

Northern Ireland

Lantra CourseFinder is launched in Northern Ireland
A new service has been launched to help businesses find courses and training quickly and easily.. Read more…

Northern Ireland employers and Government work with Lantra to boost investment in skills
Northern Ireland businesses and employers will benefit from a Sector Skills Agreement (SSA) for Northern Ireland. The agreement will support 30,000 businesses and over 70,000 workers in environmental and land-based industries. Read more…

Southern Regional College staff and apprentices exchange with counterparts in Germany
Southern Regional College announces its success in securing a new European Partnership Project which will see the College and students broaden their vocational training links with Europe. Read more…

NI Horticulture Forum
Northern Ireland Horticulture Forum meets Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss current economic pressures, sustainability, skills, training and the associated labour needs of the sector. Read more…

Careers event at Queens University, Belfast
The perceptions of students at Queens University, Belfast were challenged this week at a careers event for the environmental and land-based sector. Read more…

Scotland

Thousands visit new Lantra One Stop Shop for Training
There have been more than 9000 searches made on the online Lantra One Stop for training since its launch at the end of June 2007. Read more…

First Milk members were awarded with the first ever Skills Passports for the dairy industry at AgriScot
Dairy farmers took part in the Lantra and First Milk pilot project ‘Developing Business Competencies’ which is aimed at supporting the development of the dairy farming industry in Scotland. Read more…

Lantra project features in Scottish Skills Strategy
A Lantra project aimed at encouraging the aged 50+ workforce back into training has featured as a best practice example in the recently published Scottish Government strategy document ‘Skills for Scotland, a lifelong skills strategy’. Read more…

Farming families say succession planning is key to future sustainability
Families taking part in a pilot project entitled ‘developing the next generation of business leaders’ told an audience at the Scottish Winter Fair that succession planning is key to future sustainability. Read more…

Wales

Lantra on show
Lantra showcases the environmental and land-based sector to over 26,000 people at the Welsh Winter Fair. Read more…

Lantra Land-based Learner of the Year Awards
Land-based Learner of the Year Awards 2007 announced at the Winter Fair by S4C’s Alun Elidyr. Read more…

Mice and chips for IT hungry farmers
Lantra paves the way towards modern technology with the Managing Farmers with IT Project. Read more…

Lantra Wales welcomes a new member of staff
In November, Lantra welcomed a new member of staff into the fold to focus on Lantra’s communications in Wales. Read more…

Cymru

Lantra ar sioe
Mae Lantra yn arddangos y sector amgylcheddol a gweithio ar y tir i dros 26,000 o bobl yn y Ffair Aeaf. Darllen mwy...

Gwobrau Dysgwr Sector y Tir y Flwyddyn
Cyhoeddwyd Gwobrau dysgwr sector y tir y flwyddyn 2007 yn y Ffair Aeaf gan Alun Elidyr o S4C. Darllen mwy...

Llygoden a chips i ffermwyr llwglyd TG
Mae Lantra’n paratoi’r ffordd tuag at dechnoleg fodern gyda’r Prosiect Rheoli Ffermydd gyda TG. Darllen mwy...

Lantra yng Nghymru yn croesawu eu aelod newydd o staff
Ym mis Tachwedd, croesawodd Lantra aelod newydd o staff i ffocysu ar gyfathrebu Lantra yng Nghymru. Darllen mwy...

Products and Services

City councils interest in Lantra’s Online Competence Framework (OCF)
City councils from across England came together to preview GreenSpaces' GreenSKILL in November 2007. Read more…

Pushing Parks Forward Conference
The products and services team attended the Pushing Parks Forward conference to showcase Lantra's OCF to over 250 delegates. Read more…

The Online Competence Framework goes international
Lantra works with IEPUK Ltd to adapt the OCF to provide a solution that delivers and hosts the International Skills Competence Award (IntSCA) online programme. Read more…

The National Student Database
Lantra develops the National Student Database using its OCF system. Click here to find out how the database will benefit the sector.

IT

Lantra signing off
The introduction of corporate email branding will take place in the New Year to help get Lantra’s messages across. Read more…

New contact management system for Lantra staff
A new system has been introduced into Lantra to improve its communications with industry. Read more…

Lantra communications
All communication tools at Lantra have been redeveloped to offer a new and improved look and feel to Lantra. In particular, Lantra’s e-communications have been improved through three new websites. Read more…

Marketing

Learn to love your environment
A new website has been launched to promote the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies. Read more…

Industry newsletters
A new e-bulletin and website aren’t the only improvements made to communications here at Lantra. A new industry newsletter will be released in the early months of 2008. Read more…

Lantra Skills Ambassador Programme
The Skills Ambassador Programme is a new initiative designed to raise the awareness of the business case for skills. Read more…

Policy, Research and Development

Research within the sector
Lantra is continuing to undertake some key research to provide valuable data to inform Lantra's work and help industry and stakeholders provide the products and services needed to boost skills levels across the UK. Read more…

Bringing forward the review of apprenticeship frameworks
Over the next 3 years the Policy, Research and Development team is bringing forward the review of apprenticeship frameworks offered across the UK. Read more…

New equine workbook
The recent revision and approval of the National Occupational Standards in Equine has lead to the development of a new Equine Level 2 N/SVQ Workbook. Read more…

National Occupational Standards review
We are currently reviewing the National Occupational Standards and we need your help. Read more…

New way to recognise skills and qualifications
A Qualification and Credit Framework will lead to a new way of recognising skills and qualifications across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Read more…

Occupational studies
The team have been working with Greenmount College and CCEA, the awarding body, in Northern Ireland to develop taster units for inclusion in their entitlement. The units will be ready for learners to take from September 2008.

Events: January – March

Find out what events are taking place in the first quarter of 2008. Read more…

Take a look at who does what at Lantra

This quarter we look at the work of Alison Bailey, Industry Group Support Manager. Read more…

Click here to find out about new recruits to Lantra and those moving on.