Commission for the land-based learning review: report to Scottish Ministers

6. Sector initiatives and impacting policies

Almost all Sector reports from Scottish Government and regional and sectoral skills action plans, recommend much greater collaboration between Scottish Government, its agencies, non-government agencies, industry and education providers. There is a need to reduce duplication of effort and associated costs.

Most sectors have developed a range of strategies and ‘tool kits’ to promote their sector, agreed upon and informed by the associated Skills Groups. These are in the main administered and supported by Lantra and/or SDS and support employers such as Forestry^[40] or Agriculture^[41].

Industry sector bodies, membership organisations and agencies within the scope of this review, have undertaken a range of research activity to gather LMI data, identify industry training issues/gaps and propose future solutions. The sample of industry specific reports are provided to demonstrate the range of recent papers produced to inform and support the Sector and provide evidence to funding agencies and the Scottish Government: Agriculture^{[42] [43]}, Horticulture^{[44] [45]}, Aquaculture^{[46] [47]}, Forestry^[48], Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation^{[49] [50]}.

In addition, many sectoral skills action plans are being implemented and this review has identified a several common themes across the plans.

In line with recommendations from the Young Person's Guarantee Initial Report^[51] and in keeping with the principles of No One left Behind^[52], an Employer Recruitment Incentive Framework has been published. The Framework^[53], developed in partnership between the Scottish and Local Government, outlines the national minimum standards for publicly funded recruitment incentives available to support people of all ages who meet the required eligibility criteria whilst also embedding fair work principles into our support measures. The Framework came into effect from 1st April 2021.

Local Employability Partnerships operate across all 32 local authority areas, all with associated Delivery Plans and are a key partner in the design and delivery of employability services in Scotland. There is clearly a need to collaborate and align any new initiatives with current structures and interventions, particularly through the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind policy direction, where support (cross-sectoral) can be given to participants in land-based activity.

6.1. Emerging employer implications

The wide range of reports referenced above combined with evidence from Commission stakeholder meetings confirmed the following common themes:

• As with all other industries the Sector employers recognise that the employee pool of young people is getting smaller and the recruitment net must be cast to a wider audience.
• The need to attract more women and other adult returners into the Sector will only be possible if a more flexible approach to working practices can be adopted.
• Women in Scottish Aquaculture^[54] (WiSA) and Women in Agriculture initiatives have confirmed the untapped potential and huge industry benefits to be gained by recognising women as a key part of the available workforce.
• Adopting the principles of ‘fair work’ can present challenges to small employers within the Sector, particularly the forestry contracting sector and family farms. It is now an ‘employee’s market’ where choice and fair working conditions are now a reasonable expectation. The need to seek collaborative and innovative solutions has never been greater.
• The Sector will need to support and actively engage in the development of education and training programmes to ensure they meet the changing needs of the different land-based industries.
• The Sector needs to increase engagement to support School work placements/events, uptake of Modern Apprentices (MA’s) and recognition that Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and upskilling of the current workforce have real business benefits.

“No more pointless strategies which achieve little”,

“’Anchor’ ownership to drive change”

6.2. Industry solutions and support needed

The Commission recognise that the Sector will need levels of support to address some of the common themes. Stakeholder feedback and skills action plans identified a range of possible options and mitigating solutions which could be considered:

• Working collectively within local communities to establish childcare facilities, planning a workable harvest rota or flexible shift patterns.
• Exploring how busy peak periods can be balanced with time off at a later date or the local co-ordination of a more shared workforce.
• The need to have some central HR or accessible local source of support to help small rural businesses navigate the training options/initiatives/recruitment and possible funding sources.
• Reducing the well documented barriers to taking on a Modern Apprentice (MA). These included less bureaucratic paperwork, greater flexibility and some financial incentives to support mentoring.
• To support and incentivise upskilling/CPD training across all land-based industries.

“Low skills and high skills are all needed – pathway for jobs and CPD development of new skills”

“Employers are not aware of many support packages/and placement incentives”

6.3 Future needs

Due to the complexity of the nature-based sector and the state of flux of the associated policies and strategies, both sector specific and skills related, it is not possible to map out exactly the future skills requirements of the Sector with any certainty. As a result, it is important that the organisations that will be delivering such programmes are able to be flexible around the creation of new learning. The sector may have to contribute to the development of new learning pathways and qualifications which will allow learners to gain employment in new roles.

However, the Commission acknowledges the research currently underway to clarify new land-based industries green jobs and how labour demand may change over time^[55].

“More connected approach to policy from Scottish Government, not siloing issues such as agriculture, food, land reform and education into unrelated parts of government”

Recommendation

• Annually review recommendation progress, whilst sharing best practice and lessons learned.