4.1. The Government agrees with the need for employers to ensure pay, working conditions, and training within the food supply chain are attractive to domestic workers. the short term, and Defra’s strategic aim to strengthen the long-term domestic recruitment pipeline of food supply chain businesses generally. It is also important that government explores all available options for removing barriers to employment for UK workers by providing support for skills development programmes that are fit for purpose. In a letter to the committee on this matter, the Department for Education stated the need for new initiatives which ‘support people in all circumstances and in all types of employment’, ones that can be applied ‘at scale’ with a broader reach than that offered by the Union Learning Fund.2 We endorse this view. 4.2. Access to a sufficient and appropriately skilled workforce is essential to continued food chain industry growth, productivity and safety. The government will continue to work closely with the Food and Drink Sector Council’s Agricultural Productivity Task Force (APTF) to support skills development in these sectors. 4.3. The Agricultural Transition Plan (ATP) has outlined Defra’s support for the ‘Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture’ (TIAH) and that Defra will contribute to its establishment. Membership will be inclusive and open to all industry workers including new entrants and existing farmers and land managers. The initiative is aimed at removing the fragmentation that exists within the current learning and skills landscape for farming businesses, enabling the industry to drive forward greater uptake of skills, creating clear career development pathways, and promoting the sector as a progressive, professional and attractive career choice. 2 https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/4258/documents/43306/default/ 4 First Special Report of Session 2021–22 4.4. We will also ensure that skills development is available to school leavers and students. The government’s Post-16 Skills Plan focuses on preparing young people and adults for skilled employment which requires technical knowledge and practical skills such as in agriculture. There are currently 32 high-quality apprenticeship standards available in the agriculture, environmental and animal care sector. A further 7 standards, including general farm worker and agricultural/horticultural professional advisor, are in development. In 2020–21, funding available for investment in apprenticeships in England will remain around £2.5 billion - double that spent in 2010–11.