Employees and employers across the agricultural and horticultural sectors have one week left to complete a survey which aims to shed light on the labour and skills shortages responsible for the current staffing crisis.

Tess Howe, membership and business development manager at The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), said that the results from study, which is being undertaken in conjunction with The University of Exeter, will provide a valuable source of data on labour market information in England.

“The survey is looking to gather some baseline figures on current skill levels, critical skills gaps and priority training needs and the reasons behind them. This information will help us strategically develop our services to ensure we’re supporting employers and employees as best we can,” said Mrs Howe.

“For example, if the survey identifies a problem in a particular sector or region, we’ll look at steps that can be taken as an industry to help overcome this. Ultimately, we want farmers and growers to have access to a skilled and adaptable labour force so that they can continue to move their businesses forward in an efficient and sustainable manner.”

Mrs Howe said the shared results will also help the wider industry, and provide evidence to government departments to impact future education and workforce policy.

She noted that the labour market has changed rapidly over the last two years due to Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Howe said: “It’s therefore more important than ever to get an accurate and representative picture of the current situation. For this reason, I’d encourage as many people as possible to complete the survey ahead of the May 13 deadline.”

To complete the survey, click HERE.