Sainsbury’s is calling on young adults to consider a career in farming, as it opens applications for its horticultural and agricultural apprenticeship programme.
The retailer claims that over a third of 16 to 24-year-olds match the criteria for a modern-day career in farming. The industry will need 60,000 new employees by 2020 just to replace retiring farmers, it is believed.
Using research carried out by YouGov, 80 per cent of young adults 'still have outdated perceptions of what careers in the industry actually involve,' according to Sainsbury's.
However, the study reportedly uncovered that over a third of young adults selected criteria that match modern-day careers in farming when they were asked to describe their ideal job - access to the latest technology (selected by 28 per cent), flexible working hours (56 per cent), and variety in their day to day work.
With 39 per cent of respondents to the new YouGov poll saying they would like more information about careers in farming, Sainsbury’s hopes it will be able invigorate increased interest in farming as a career when it this week (w/c 31 August) opens applications for the first apprenticeship for horticulture and agriculture to be launched by a retailer.
The Sainsbury’s apprenticeship programme, which is being run in partnership with Staffline, aims to give young people aged 16 and above the chance to work with some of the retailer’s food suppliers, many of whom use the latest innovations and technology in the sector - from learning the digital infrastructure of glasshouse computer systems, to managing crop growth through the use of drones and smartphone apps.
Every 12 weeks, the plan is for the apprentices to visit other growers in the Sainsbury’s supply chain, which means they get access to 44 days of off-the-job training.
In between these visits the apprentices will be back at work learning the practical aspects of their chosen career from harvesting; identifying and dealing with pests, diseases and disorders; planting; monitoring moisture and nutrients; pruning and use of state-of-the art equipment and digital tools.
Robert Honeysett, Sainsbury's horticultural manager, said: “Our research reveals there’s a significant gap between what young people think of farming, and some of the jobs that are available today. We’re passionate in playing our part to support the future of British farming, and help attract young people into the industry.
“A third of those surveyed assume they need a family connection to break into the sector, which isn’t the case. We hope our apprenticeship programme will help show that there are a number of alternative routes into farming, and we’d encourage school leavers and young professionals to consider it. It’s one of the most dynamic industries in the UK to work in.”
Elizabeth Truss, the government's environment secretary, said: “Food and farming is vital to Britain’s future, already contributing £100 billion a year to the economy. The people who give this industry its extraordinary energy are some of the most innovative in the world and we want more young people to see food and farming as an attractive career.
“Over the next few years we will open up more opportunities for young people by trebling the number of apprenticeships across the sector. We hope to see more leading businesses, like Sainsbury’s, providing our next generation of farmers with the skills, confidence and opportunities to grow our industry.”
