NEW INQUIRY -
Education and career opportunities in land-based
sectors
From agricultural robotics and engineering to conservation and
environmental advice, MPs will examine the wide range of career
opportunities which exist in land-based sectors including and
beyond farm-based jobs.
The new inquiry from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Committee will explore the relationship between education and the
land-based industries and the effectiveness of current primary,
secondary, further and higher education in embedding awareness
and equipping students with the skills and knowledge
necessary.
MPs will delve into existing and potential initiatives aimed at
promoting the career opportunities in land-based sectors and will
consider any examples of best practice for this, in the UK and
abroad.
The EFRA Committee will also question what more can be done to
facilitate new entrants into land-based industries, including
people from non-rural backgrounds and those considering a career
change. It will additionally consider the accessibility and
availability of land-based courses and how equipped institutions
are to teach them.
Committee Chair, Sir , said:
“The UK’s agricultural and horticultural sectors offer a wide
range of rewarding careers and employ hundreds of thousands of
people. There are many jobs available in land-based industries
and it is vital that there are fit for purpose career pathways to
reach them.
Today we launch a new inquiry into the different educational
routes people can take to enter a career in land-based sectors.
This inquiry will consider whether education and agricultural
policies are working effectively to promote the sectors and
facilitate people choosing this field of
work.”
Terms of
reference
The Committee invites written submissions through the inquiry website addressing
any or all of the issues raised in the following terms of
reference, by 23:55 on Friday 3 November.
- How can the understanding and
awareness of career opportunities in land-based sectors be
improved among children and young adults?
- How effective is the education
system at supporting young people seeking careers in land-based
sectors? For example, are routes such as T levels and
apprenticeships fit for purpose?
- What more can be done to facilitate
new entrants, including those from non-rural backgrounds, into
land-based sectors, including those considering a career
change?
- Are colleges offering land-based
education accessible and available to those seeking to enrol in
courses? Are there gaps in coverage and if so, how can these be
addressed?
- Do colleges offering land-based
education have the appropriate facilities and funding to enable
effective teaching (e.g. access to farmland)? What more can be
done to make this teaching more effective?
- What role should schools, colleges,
universities, and local and central government play in promoting
and supporting careers in land-based sectors?
- How can more children, young people
and adults be provided with opportunities to see the career
opportunities in land-based sectors first-hand? Are there
examples of initiatives doing this successfully (for example,
through initiatives such as Open Farm Sunday)?
- Are there domestic or international
examples of best practice in successfully promoting educational
opportunities and careers in land-based sectors?
