Lantra Launch Updated Skills Assessment Research at the House of Lords

COVENTRY, England, April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



The Baroness Young of Old Scone today sponsors an event which sees the launch of a report on the future skills and employment needs of the land-based and environmental industries. The key findings from the Skills Assessment Update identify significant employee and skills shortages in the UK over the next decade. 

The land-based and environmental industries currently employ approximately 1.3 million people in 230,000 businesses across the UK. Small and micro businesses account for 97% of the sector with 54% of staff 45 years old or over, and only 32% of them female. With an ageing demographic and fewer young people considering careers in land-based and environmental industries, it is forecast to need 595,000 new entrants between now and 2020.

An ageing workforce and growth in some industries means increased employment opportunities across the sector. There is an increasing need to attract more people into sector jobs and careers. The report recognises the need to recognise the professionalism and skills of the workforce, promote and record continued professional development and raise awareness of jobs and career progression.

Lantra's Chair Valerie Owen commented; "Lantra's work helps to both define and support the land-based and environmental industries - both strategically and at a grass roots level. Without essential government funding, it is ever more important that employers continue to work in partnership with Lantra to ensure the business and training needs of the sector can be met. This report outlines key issues for such businesses nationally, and how we plan to support employers tackling these challenges through training and qualifications, skills recording tools and information portals."

Lantra continues to help industry address the challenges outlined in the report by setting standards for professional and occupational competence, providing support and information on training and development through new Business Centre and Careers web portals, providing training and qualification services through Lantra Awards and by promoting professionalism through Professional Skills Frameworks.

The Skills Assessment Summary Update is being launched today at the House of Lords by The Baroness Young of Old Scone and Lantra Chair Valerie Owen OBE. 

Notes to Editors: 

For more information about Lantra, please contact the Lantra Press Office or visit one of our websites:

http://www.lantra.co.uk

http://www.lantra-awards.co.uk

http://www.lantra.co.uk/business

http://www.lantra.co.uk/careers

Issued by: 

Lantra Press Office

Raam Tarat, Marketing Co-ordinator

Tel: +44(0)2476-69-69-96 or email media@lantra.co.uk