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.
Employers, industry representatives and learning providers attended the launch, pledging their support for the Environmental and Land-based SSA and their commitment to work in partnership on the skills agenda.
The Agreement has been developed for employers by employers, facilitated by Lantra, and is the culmination of 18 months of research which will help to ensure that businesses can get the right people, with the right skills at the right time to remain profitable, competitive and sustainable.
The Agreement addresses the crucial skills challenges faced by a diverse sector comprising 17 industries. These industries are undergoing radical change due to globalisation of production and markets, legislative and technical changes and rapidly changing consumer demands. Recent estimates have put the sector’s contribution to UK national GDP at 5.67%, but this will not be maintained if the skills of workers are not developed and supported.
Research shows that all 17 industries reported difficulties in recruitment and retention emphasised by the historical image of low pay, low skill levels and long hours. Skills gaps have been identified in legislative training, IT, technical job specific training and generic business skills. Health and safety training, IT and continuous professional development (CPD) are at the top of the priority list for future skills requirements. Businesses cited financial cost, lack of alternative cover and the time lost due to training as barriers to learning new skills and workforce development.
Contrary to the historical image, much of the land-based workforce is highly skilled in technical areas, with years of vocational experience and often family tradition behind them. However, their skills are often unaccredited and their valuable experience not recognised. The Sector Skills Agreement will work to ensure that these skills and experience are recognised alongside formal qualifications and professional development and help employers access bite-sized units of learning.
Speaking at the launch Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew said: “Skills development and access to good quality education and training which meets the needs of employers is vital to the success of all sectors of our economy and the environmental and land-based sector is no exception.
“My department wants to see sustainable rural communities and a thriving rural economy. By increasing the skills of its workforce, the industry can adapt to change, increase productivity and profitability and exploit new opportunities such as renewable energy. We can also ensure that new entrants to the industry are well equipped for the changes and challenges that lie ahead.
“I am committed to supporting the development of skills within this sector and my department will play its part by delivering on the actions assigned to it in the Lantra SSA.”
John Rankin OBE, Chairman of Lantra’s Northern Ireland Industry Forum said: “The Sector Skills Agreement for Northern Ireland presents a real opportunity for both rural and urban businesses in the sector to shape education, skills and policy development to meet the needs of industry. This I believe will make education and skills delivery more employer-led.”
Charlotte Kirkpatrick from the Northern Ireland Horse Board (NIHB) said: “The equine industry is a really varied sector. Partnership working is crucial as it gives the many businesses a voice and real power to shape the way training is developed and delivered. We are delighted to support the agreement and look forward to working with Lantra in the future.”
David Seffen, Lantra’s Northern Ireland Partnership Manager added:, “Improving the skills of the workforce is essential for businesses to remain competitive, while training must be delivered and funded to complement their needs. The Agreement presents a real opportunity to make a difference and will be the foundation for our future. I look forward to the implementation and positive impact of the Sector Skills Agreement which I have no doubt will sustain and promote the land-based sector, and the Northern Ireland economy. There is now a real challenge for both industry and government in promoting the skills agenda.”
