More than £2 million will be available to support young people
entering farming through a pre-apprenticeship programme and
training fund.
Speaking at a joint NFU Scotland and Scottish Government summit
on new entrants, Agriculture Minister launched a newly procured Land
Based Pre-apprenticeship Programme with £1.8 million committed
over three years.
Mr Fairlie also confirmed the relaunch and procurement of the
Next Generation Practical Training Fund. The fund is open
from now until March 2027 with at least £300,000 a year to help
young people access skills training in a flexible, individual
way.
Mr Fairlie said:
“I know from my own experience the hard work and dedication that
it takes to enter the industry as a new entrant farmer and the
challenges young people can face. These two funds will help more
people get practical training to launch their agriculture
careers.
“The pre-apprenticeship programme has been expanded to take on
close to 400 people and to date we have had more than 60
applications for the training fund. This is a really promising
start and is a positive step towards improving safety on-farm and
training up the depleted post-Brexit labour force.”
Duncan Macalister, Vice President, NFU Scotland, said:
“We welcome this vital investment in practical training and
pre-apprenticeship opportunities. These programmes are not just
about developing skills, they are about securing the future of
Scottish agriculture.
“We urgently need action on land access and capital support to
complement this step forward, so that young people can see a
clear, supported path into the sector.”
Lantra Scotland Director Dr Liz Barron-Majerik said:
“Lantra works to enhance Scotland's natural environment and
support the rural economy, by increasing the number and diversity
of employees in Scotland's land-based and aquaculture sector and
driving their skills development. The training fund and the
pre-apprenticeship programme are both of great benefit to new
entrants to agriculture as they start on their career path, and
so I'm delighted that we're going to be managing them on behalf
of, and in partnership with, FONE and the Scottish Government.
“We look forward to working with our training provider partners
on the delivery of the training funds, and the Scottish Machinery
Rings, SRUC and Borders College on the pre-apprenticeship. We
would also like to encourage others who are interested in
becoming involved to please get in touch via scotland@lantra.co.uk.”
Notes to editors
Next Generation Practical Training Fund: Next Generation Practical
Training Fund | Lantra - Scotland
Land-based Pre-apprenticeship Programme: Pre-Apprenticeship |
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