35 Accepted

Publish a 2026 review of skills and training for agricultural nature recovery.

Recommendation
By 2026, the Government should publish a review into the skills and training available to support key initiatives for nature recovery across all relevant sectors. This review should analyse the training, guidance and advisory services available in the agricultural sector and set out a plan for improving their quality by ensuring that they are based on robust scientific and impartial evidence. It should also ensure that they are accessible and affordable to all that need them.
Government Response Summary
The government outlines multiple initiatives to improve skills and training, including mandating industry standards, funding business advice, working with the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture, and introducing an agriculture T-Level. It also commits to publishing a Green Jobs Plan later this year, developed with cross-government and sector input, which will address the skilled workforce needed for nature recovery and the green transition.
Paragraph Reference
119
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
We are mandating industry recognised standards as part of the SFI funding offer to ensure farmers receive quality assured, specialist expertise that they need to implement nutrient management and integrated pest management actions. Over 18,000 farmers have received business advice through the Farming Resilience Fund, and we will continue to fund free business advice until March 2025 to help increase profitability and deliver on environmental outcomes, access carbon audits and natural capital assessments. We are supporting feasibility and planning for more complex activities with targeted financial support and are working with relevant arms-length bodies (ALBs) to develop the roles of Defra group ALB advisers to improve local join up and consistency. This will enable them to aid understanding and uptake of funding opportunities in their local context, supported in tandem with the improved facilitation fund to provide farmers with joined up access to expertise, advice and support. We are working with the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) to support the agricultural sector in understanding and meeting its own skill and training needs. We are introducing a T-Level for agriculture so young people can access the skills and information they need to move into the agricultural sector. Furthermore, we are working with DESNZ, DfE, DWP, IfATE and sector leaders to develop and publish a Green Jobs Plan. The Plan will set out government and industry actions to help ensure the UK has the skilled workforce required for the green transition. A number of sectoral task and finish groups have contributed evidence on skills and employment needs and are working across their sectors to drive action. This includes a task and finish group focussed on Nature, chaired by the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). The Plan will be published later this year.
Timeline
Recommendation age 2.5 yrs
Report published 05 Dec 2023