As the UK faces key challenges including Brexit, the focus on agri-skills and land-based industries has never been higher. Sparsholt Principal and Co-Vice Chair of the National Land Based College (NLBC) Tim Jackson addressed how education aims to advocate these practices at the recent Apprenticeships, Skills and Our Workforce – Are We Prepared?’ conference last week, held at DEFRA in the company of the Secretary of State, Right Honourable Michael Gove MP.
Explained by Michael Gove MP as “practical scientists”, farmers and in particularly students who want to enter into the agriculture industry need a ladder of continuous professional development to stimulate interest from an early age.
Principal Tim Jackson’s presentation focused on the capacity of Land-Based Colleges and Universities like Sparsholt, as being key to the delivery of a productivity and skills agenda for land-based sectors for farmers of all ages and abilities.
Tim said: “As a college and university centre that makes up part of Landex, Sparsholt provides a superb introduction to the land-based industries by combining a range of science, technology, husbandry and engineering skills so students are well equipped to enter the sector. The land-based colleges also manage the vast majority of Apprenticeships in the industry, either through managing their learning directly or by supporting other providers in the underpinning knowledge and scientific principles.”
Hear more from our Principal on educating farmers of the future, as well as providing continuous access to Skills Development at Sparsholt to benefit those working in the industry at any stage in their career. Watch NLBC’s video now!
Learn more about our courses across land-based, active and sports sectors and view our courses for September 2018 now!