AgriSkills Forum
The AgriSkills Forum was set up in Autumn 2008 to ensure skills issues were being addressed in the agricultural and horticultural industries.
Chaired by Meurig Raymond, NFU Deputy President, the Forum has achieved an unprecedented degree of collaboration between all the major agricultural organisations to address the issue of skills in the sector and how they are recognised.
The vision of the AgriSkills Forum is to achieve a profitable, sustainable industry across the UK, valued by society, that is capable of meeting the demands of agriculture and land management in the 21st century.
AgriSkills Strategy
Following the Secretary of State's commitment to hold a skills round table when he spoke at the National Farmers Union (NFU) AGM, The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP chaired a meeting with the AgrilSkills Forum at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester in April 2009. Discussion covered the current situation relating to the provision and delivery of training and skills development, and what needs to be done to move it forward. At the meeting Hilary Benn, tasked the AgrilSkills Forum to develop an AgriSkills Strategy.
An editorial sub-group chaired by Yorkshire farmer Richard Longthorp and including representatives from the NFU, Lantra and Landex was formed to develop this strategy. It has been produced in consultation with industry organisations and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The AgriSkills Strategy aims to recognise existing skills, promote skills development and the concept of professionalism as being central to business improvement; promote the industry as a professional and progressive place to work; provide governments with a strong and influential partner to meet the challenges of the future; and support the industry as a priority sector.
