A LandSkills West Midlands team has been appointed by Lantra
Sector Skills Council as the final piece of the jigsaw to spearhead
the delivery of a £4.4m skills development fund aimed at
agricultural, forestry and production horticulture businesses in
the West Midlands.
Emma Tregear, from Moseley in South Birmingham, has been
appointed as Programme Manager and brings Big Lottery Fund grant
programme skills and experience to this exciting new initiative.
Emma said: "I am really pleased to be joining the programme.
I have worked in the grant-making sector for some time but I
previously owned a small business making and selling handmade
beauty products, using ingredients from local and national
producers who I hope can benefit from the programme in the
future."
Michelle Ball, from Blythe Bridge near Stoke on Trent, will join
Emma as Programme Officer to deliver LandSkills West Midlands, and
has been involved with training for over twelve years, delivering
NVQs in various sectors as a qualified Assessor, Verifier and
Tutor.
Michelle added: "It is so important that agricultural and
forestry businesses keep developing their skills and stay abreast
of industry development. LandSkills West Midlands represents
a real opportunity for rural businesses to do this through
affordable and flexible training and skills development activities
and I am looking forward to presenting rural businesses in the
region with this exciting programme."
LandSkills West Midlands will begin to deliver a whole range of
training and development opportunities in Autumn 2009 to help
land-based businesses become more profitable and
competitive.
Emma continued: "Training really helps to boost staff
motivation, loyalty and confidence, which can only benefit
businesses in the region and with LandSkills West Midlands offering
up to 80% towards the cost there really is no excuse not to invest
in skills."
The programme is run by a Steering Group made up of industry
representatives to help Lantra prioritise the skills needs of
eligible businesses in the region. Steering Group Chair, Henry
Lucas a beef and cereal farmer based in Kenilworth, Warwickshire,
said: "As a farmer it is great to see industry getting
involved in steering the programme. I look forward to working
with Emma and Michelle on the Steering Group to find good quality
projects that will help move the industry forward."
LandSkills West Midlands is managed by Lantra on behalf of
Advantage West Midlands, as part of the Rural Development Programme
for England (RDPE) which is funded by defra and the European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
To find out more contact Lantra on 0845 707 8007 or email
LandSkillsWM@lantra.co.uk