farm workers

Employment on UK farms is in decline

HOPS Labour Solutions says it has seen success in its drive to recruit more UK farm workers.

In March, HOPS, a provider of foreign seasonal workers, piloted its first ever training course for UK workers and as a result 25 students have since gone on to secure production jobs in the horticulture industry.

The 25 students, spread across two courses at Pershore College, each secured a job offer upon competing the course and a Level 2 qualification in Production Horticulture. There has been a 23 per cent growth from the first to the second course in students securing jobs according to HOPS.

The initiative, set up in co-ordination with DWP JobCentre Plus, has a focus within the West Midlands and the regions of Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Gloucester. The aim is to encourage more UK residents to apply, train and secure jobs on the hundreds of arable farms across Britain, which are desperate for seasonal workers, while changing the perception that a job in horticulture would be 'poorly paid' and not have the potential for progression.

Matthew Clayton, who had been made redundant in 2011, was offered a role at Drummonds Farms after recently completing the course. He said: “I have been given so much confidence from this course and I am really looking forward to starting work in May. It’s been a completely new challenge for me and has opened up a totally new career path. The great thing about this industry is the different directions it can lead you in. I learnt lots of new things on the course and it has really opened my eyes to the depth and diversity of the industry.'

Meanwhile, Laura Savage, operations manager at Hops, says she expects the course to keep on growing and help more UK citizens to secure employment at a time when 2.56 million people in the UK remain unemployed. She explained: “This is a real opportunity for people to get a guaranteed job. They also earn a formal qualification and get a foot in the door to a very profitable and growing industry. Our relationship with the Job Centre has enabled our courses to develop and ensured lots of interest. We are really looking forward to placing lots of unemployed people into new jobs throughout 2013.”

HOPS has scheduled a further seven courses to take place throughout the year across the West Midlands and Kent. More information can be found at: www.hopslaboursolutions.com/hopsuk/opendays/ Advance

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