Training/Education

Terms of Reference

To consider proposals and make recommendations to the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC) and HSE on training and educational matters relating to health and safety at work within the agricultural industry (excluding arboriculture and forestry*).

Objectives (April 2009 – March 2011)

The Group will initially contribute to driving forward the “Improving competence and training” workstream within the ‘Agriculture Revisited’ initiative, aiming to reduce the number of fatal accidents in farming. The primary focus of the group will be to contribute to the four areas identified by AIAC as priorities, to facilitate increased uptake of health and safety vocational qualifications (VQs). In addition, the group will promote the wider business benefits of relevant training across the sector.

The work will link to the HSE’s “Make the Promise – Come Home Safe” campaign and this will serve as an opportunity for marketing and promoting VQs and training as proactive measures that can contribute towards farmers and workers achieving this goal.

Other objectives will include those originally specified at the formation of the group in November 2005, namely

• HSE and Group members will continue to seek to embed health and safety into existing training/education provision.
• To seek to build health and safety into training opportunities for new entrants
• Better use of the media to promote business benefits of health and safety

These objectives are likely to overlap with work under the “Agriculture Revisited” initiative.

Project workstreams

1. Promotional work on VQs to focus specifically on some of the larger farming organisations or groups who may be receptive to the business benefits of training. This proposal will identify and target these organisations and engage with them in order to encourage uptake of VQs.
2. A renewed effort to identify "drivers for uptake" and other incentives to encourage uptake of the VQs within the industry.  This workstream will identify and promote relevant schemes and inducements and identify other motivational factors for farmers and workers to undertake VQs, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
3. VQs to be pursued more vigorously through the land based college network to facilitate greater uptake among those who are new to the industry or about to join it. Land based colleges are an ideal opportunity to embed key health and safety messages at an early stage with agricultural students.
4. Work to identify sources of financial assistance for those seeking to undertake the qualifications. This workstream will explore the potential for funding and other financial support through the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in England, and their counterparts in Wales and Scotland, together with any other funding opportunities that may arise.

Resources

Chair	Alastair Mitchell	HSE
Secretary	Alan Plom	HSE
Member	David Bell	IOSH
Member	Neil Catton	Gs Marketing
Member	Suzie Cave	City and Guilds NPTC
Member	Charlie Clutterbuck	Unite, the union
Member	James Eckley	NFYFC
Member	Geoff Gregory	LANDEX
Member	Madge Moore	LANTRA SSC
Member	David Owen	Lantra Awards
Member	Michael Britten	NFU

* Training and educational matters within arboriculture and forestry fall within the remit of the Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group (AFAG), a sub committee of AIAC. However, should there be any issues or areas of work that overlap between the work of TEG and AFAG, arrangements are in place to ensure cooperation and coordination of resources where appropriate.

Improving competencies and training: A health & safety seminar for agricultural businesses

The event was held on 14 October 2009 at Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Nr Coventry, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG. Keynote speaker was Adam Henson, farmer and contributor to BBC TV "Countryfile" programme.

The seminar was for farming and horticultural businesses employing staff on a permanent or temporary basis. Farmers, partners, managers and directors of large companies and agri-businesses were particularly welcomed.

The event

• provided delegates an opportunity to learn more about the HSE initiative to improve competencies and skills;
• introduced a suite of health and safety vocational qualifications that were specific to the needs of the industry;
• explained how to go about getting staff trained and qualified;
• provided an outline of the legal duties placed on directors; and
• provided delegates with an up to date information pack containing the latest industry guidance.

For further details click on the presentations listed below:

• TEG Seminar - 14 October - Introduction by Graeme Walker, Head of Agriculture and Food Sector
• VQs-TEGseminar09 - Alastair Mitchell, HSE - Improving competencies - an introduction to Vocational qualifications
• Corporate Responsibility - Andrew Roach, Beachcroft LLP
• VQ Seminar - HSE Strategy & VQ sign up- Alan Plom, HSE

Agendas

Agendas	Papers	Minutes
09 April 2009
Agenda 09/04/09	List of action points
09 March 2009
Agenda 09/03/09	List of action points
28 January 2009
Agenda 28/01/09	List of action points