“Beef + Lamb New Zealand, through the Skills Leaders Working Group that involved dairy, horticulture, arable, the government, and Primary ITO, has taken a leadership role on reforming the approach to primary sector skills and training. We’re confident that the Food & Fibre Skills Action Plan 2019-2022 will help address the long-term skills shortages that are constraining New Zealand’s primary producers,” says B+LNZ’s Chief Insight Officer Jeremy Baker.
“With the working world rapidly changing, it’s clear that we needed a fresh approach to attracting people to careers in the primary sector and providing training opportunities for them. This action plan builds on initiatives that are already under way and will ensure we’re able to get the innovative, talented, and hardworking people the sector needs to thrive well into the future.”
Jeremy Baker has been deeply involved in the process of developing the new action plan, and will be chairing the establishment group that is responsible for the implementation of the strategy.
“During this initial phase of the action plan, Beef + Lamb New Zealand will be focused on the establishment of the Workforce Development Council, helping to set up a new Centre of Vocational Excellence for the primary sector, and continuing our own initiatives to support on farm training and development for sheep and beef farmers,” says Mr Baker.
“Our involvement in this plan reflects what our own review of industry skills and training said we needed to focus on; with our investment targeted on farm through both extension and other development and training programmes, while using our position to advocate for the rest of the education and training system to help attract new people and training providers to the sector.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact B+LNZ’s Senior Communications Advisor Gwynn Compton on 027 838 6353.
