Almost four in 10 regional skills plans make little or no reference to land-based and environmental skills, according to new analysis.<\/p>\n
The findings raise questions over whether workforce planning is keeping pace with demand across food production, environmental management and climate resilience.<\/p>\n
Lantra, working with Rooted in Place, has reviewed published Local Skills Improvement Plans in England alongside equivalent skills strategies across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
The analysis examines how land-based and environmental skills feature within regional workforce planning and identifies areas where provision and investment may be less developed.<\/p>\n
The findings come as the Government’s devolution programme gives mayors and strategic authorities greater responsibility for skills, employment and economic development.<\/p>\n
With more decisions being taken at regional level, the report argues that workforce requirements linked to agriculture, food production, environmental management and climate adaptation will need greater consideration.<\/p>\n
Lantra said the analysis highlights a risk that specialist skills requirements could be overlooked within broader regional priorities. It is calling for greater coordination between employers, education providers and policymakers, including through a proposed national skills taskforce.<\/p>\n
Recognition of the sector varies significantly between regions. Some plans identify land-based and environmental industries as contributors to economic growth, rural economies and environmental objectives, while others give them limited or no specific coverage.<\/p>\n
Where the sectors are referenced, they are often grouped under wider themes including green jobs, biodiversity, natural capital, food systems, climate adaptation and place-based economic development. Lantra said this broader approach could create opportunities for the sector but may also make specific workforce and training requirements harder to identify.<\/p>\n
The strongest recognition was found in Kent and Medway, York and North Yorkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cumbria, Dorset, Greater Devon, Sussex and Brighton, Swindon and Wiltshire, South Yorkshire and Tees Valley.<\/p>\n
The analysis also identified recurring challenges across the plans, including changing technical, digital and environmental skills requirements, limited rural transport and access to training, gaps in careers information, difficulties sustaining specialist training provision and the need for closer links between employers, education providers and regional decision-makers.<\/p>\n
Nick Juba, CEO at Lantra said: \u201cAs powers and funding move closer to local areas, it is essential that land-based and environmental skills are part of the conversation. The workforce needed to grow food, manage land, restore nature and build climate resilience doesn\u2019t sit outside local growth plans, it underpins them. Our analysis shows that some regions are already making those connections. Others have an opportunity to go further in recognising the role these sectors play in delivering economic, environmental and community outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lantra has published its analysis as a resource for businesses, training providers and policymakers involved in regional skills planning. It is also seeking feedback on approaches that could improve the visibility of land-based and environmental industries within future plans.<\/p>\n
The next phase of its regional research will bring employers, training providers and decision-makers together to examine careers pathways, training provision and collaboration. The initial focus will be York and North Yorkshire, Greater Devon and Sussex and Brighton, alongside Powys in mid-Wales.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New analysis highlights gaps in regional workforce planning as demand grows for specialist environmental and land-based skills<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266702,"featured_media":2114393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"coauthors":[127717],"class_list":["post-2114392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","tag-featured-story"],"yoast_head":"\n