Pictured above: Ros Burnley, Regional Partnership Manager of
Lantra West Midlands
Rural businesses across the West Midlands are set to reap the
benefits of new knowledge transfer, skills and training
opportunities being offered as part of a £5.4 million
regional initiative.
Aimed at raising the region's skills in the farming and forestry
industries, Lantra - the Sector Skills Council for the
environmental and land-based sector, has been awarded over
£4.4 million by Advantage West Midlands as part of the Rural
Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007 - 2013.
Delivered under the banner of LandSkills West Midlands, the
support offered will provide grants of up to 80% and will equip
both the agricultural and forestry sectors with the essential
skills and knowledge needed to enhance their competitiveness. It
will also ensure that assistance complements the range of capital
grants already available from Advantage West Midlands.
Paul John, Director of European Programmes at Advantage West
Midlands said: "LandSkills West Midlands is all about
improving the performance of our farmers and foresters. These
sectors face challenging times and we intend to ensure that they
are well placed to manage the threats and opportunities facing
them.
I am particularly pleased to see the emphasis placed on
knowledge transfer. There is a great deal of research in
universities and other institutions that must be transmitted to
businesses in a form they can apply at a practical level.
At the same time, we must also ensure our basic husbandry of
land, crops and livestock is of the highest standard. LandSkills
West Midlands has been designed to deliver the wide range of skills
and knowledge required by our land based sector.
The launch of this new programme marks a significant step in
achieving the overall aims of RDPE. It will provide training and
information in a form, time and place that is suitable for our
rural businesses".
From traditional training and support for producer groups, to
study trips, farm health planning and supply chain development -
LandSkills offers opportunities for a wide range of businesses.
Lantra and AWM will work in partnership with employers, employees
and training providers to develop services that meet the current
and future needs of the industry.
Lantra's West Midlands Regional Partnership Manager, Ros
Burnley, adds: "It is a great opportunity for Lantra to
manage such an influential project that will help farming, and
forestry businesses improve performance and profitability through
investment in training and skills. The central coordination of the
training programme will allow us to be responsive to businesses
needs and to ensure that the widest range of training and skills
opportunities are available across the region."
A total of £55 million is available to the region through
the RDPE Programme to make agriculture and forestry more
competitive and sustainable and to enhance opportunities for rural
businesses, social enterprises and community projects.
To find out more on the training available through the
LandSkills West Midlands Programme contact Lantra on 0845 707 8007,
email the team on connect@lantra.co.uk or visit www.lantra.co.uk/LandSkillsWestMidlands