A strategic alliance has been established between the Association of Labour Providers (ALP) and the British Growers Association (BGA).
The aim is to strengthen arrangements for labour supply to the UK horticulture sector following the abolition of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme (SAWS).
It is hoped the alliance will improve communication, collaboration and joint representation between the two organisations to highlight the economic importance of labour provision in the fresh produce sector, to promote best practice in the supply and management of labour, and to champion the work and career opportunities available in the UK horticulture industry.
While discussions between the two organisations have been ongoing for some time, BGA chief executive James Hallett pinpointed the government’s decision not to replace SAWS at the end of this year as giving added impetus to the move, as the UK horticulture sector works to avert a potential labour crisis in the coming years.
He said: “The government’s decision to scrap SAWS - which accounts for a third of Britain’s seasonal agricultural labour force - puts the supply of reliable and skilled workers right at the top of the industry’s agenda.
'This partnership not only represents a joint commitment to drive up standards and improve collaboration across all aspects of labour provision in the fresh produce sector, it also strengthens our voice in pressing ministers to explain how they will work with the industry to ensure enough workers can be found to carry out essential planting and harvesting operations on UK farms.
“The UK’s £3.7 billion fresh produce industry is a high-value sector of the agri-food economy with significant potential to support the government’s drive for economic growth through improvements in productivity, efficiency and innovation. But ministers must recognise that continuing uncertainty over labour supply represents a major threat to UK growers’ future production and investment plans.'
ALP director, David Camp, said his organisation’s strategic alliance with BGA marked an important first step in tackling a potential labour shortage in the fresh produce sector.
“ALP members supply the majority of seasonal workers into the UK food and agricultural sectors,' he said. 'It is essential that every horticultural business which relies upon seasonal workers plans now to secure their labour supply in 2014 and beyond.
'This will require early planning and may involve new ways of thinking and alternative models of supply. This new strategic alliance between ALP and BGA is extremely timely in providing a clear focus for joint action and representation in meeting the challenge of labour provision in the UK fresh produce sector.'
The BGA represents UK fresh produce growers. The British horticulture sector is worth £3.7 billion to the UK economy, employing more than 100,000 full-time and seasonal workers..
The ALP is the specialist trade association offering support and expert advice to organisations that provide and use workers within the food, agricultural and other GLA regulated sectors.
