Apprenticeship guide set to help farmers bridge labour gap

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, Lantra has launched a new guide to help farmers and small businesses take on their first apprentice.

It is hoped that the guide, called the Employer Toolkit, will give employers the resources needed to bring new entrants into the agricultural industry at a time when many businesses are facing labour shortages.

It comes as a result of Lantra research, which highlighted that while farmers see the value in employing apprentices, they often struggle to find practical information to support an employee on this training route.

See also: What does the future hold for agricultural apprenticeships?

The guide covers all aspects of apprenticeships – from how they work, associated costs, training providers and working hours, to assessments and responsibilities. 

Lantra chief executive Marcus Potter said: “We know there are labour shortages on farms, yet only a small number of farm businesses are employing apprentices.

“We are very excited to be launching this resource, which we hope will both help and encourage small employers to recruit apprentices.

“Employing an apprentice for the first time can seem like a challenge, [but] our new toolkit provides clear advice and step-by-step guidance to make the process easier.”

Farmers and agricultural businesses can view the toolkit online (PDF)