Lantra Supports Learners and Industry With Strategic White Paper Response
15th January 2026
Lantra has submitted its formal response to the Department for Education’s post-16 education and skills white paper consultation, published in October 2025. The consultation focuses on the design of a new Level 3 vocational pathway – called V-levels – as well as proposals for new Level 2 pathways, covering both foundation programmes and occupational certificates, which are especially important for practical, entry‑level roles across the land‑based sector.
Paper vs Practise: Qualifications Meet Industry Needs
Lantra’s response champions a flexible, practical and employer-led approach to the new pathway, ensuring it supports learners effectively while meeting the skills needs of industry.
Nick Juba, Lantra's CEO, said:
“V Levels have real potential, but only if they’re built around the practical skills and behaviours our industries depend on.
Employers want qualifications that genuinely prepare people for the job - not just on paper, but in practice. We are calling for a system that is flexible, employer‑led and rooted in real‑world delivery so learners leave confident, capable and ready to contribute to a greener, more resilient economy.”
The UK Economy needs the Land-Based Sector
The land-based sector plays a vital role in the UK’s economy, environment and food security. Employing over 1.3 million people across 230,000 businesses, the sector is central to achieving Net Zero, restoring nature and building resilient rural economies. Lantra is proud to contribute to shaping this future - demonstrating that sustainable growth, innovation and environmental leadership can and must go hand in hand.
Vocational training and high-quality technical qualifications are essential for the sector. It is this training and education that ensures learning is hands-on, grounded in real-world problem solving, and supported through rigorous assessment.
Empowering Learners: The Future of Land-Based Qualification Design
Drawing on sector expertise and insight from across land-based industries Lantra’s consultation response emphasises the need for:
- Flexible qualification design, including opportunities for integrated, larger V-levels where appropriate.
- Collaboration and innovation, enabling awarding organisations, employers and industry bodies to develop qualifications that remain current and genuinely reflect the competencies required in real jobs.
- Modular options, supporting lifelong learning and helping individuals progress, upskills and address workplace skills gaps.
- Robust progression routes, enabling learners to move into employment with confidence and without losing momentum.
Navigating Land-Based Education towards Sustainability
Sustainability remains a core priority for the land-based sector. Lantra recommends that the proposed pathway embeds environmental best practice, business resilience and meaningful workplace experience across all land-based qualifications – ensuring learners gain the skills, behaviours and confidence needed to contribute to climate goals and to meet employer expectations.
Daisy Hooper, Lantra's Director of Policy, Research and External Relations, added:
“Land‑based industries are tackling some of the UK’s biggest challenges, from climate resilience to food security, and that requires strong practical and green skills.
If V Levels reflect how our sector really works - hands‑on, innovative and rooted in real‑world problem‑solving - they can help attract new talent and drive long‑term growth across nature-based economies. ”