Future of Skills at Oxford Farming Conference

Building a skilled workforce in agriculture and horticulture is one of the greatest opportunities for the industry.

To meet the challenge of modern farming and environmental practice and to stay competitive, we need to be ambitious about developing our people. 

This means getting better organised to maintain and attract enough labour with the right skills for the future.  

Taking a more professional approach to lifelong learning could unlock improvements in productivity, profitability and sustainability.  

Partnership approach 

This initiative is being driven forward by key industry stakeholders who have joined forces to create the Agriculture and Horticulture Skills Leadership Group (SLG).  

The SLG includes employers, leaders from the NFU Next Generation, AHDB, Defra and Harper Adams and many other participants involved in various work-streams. 

The key proposal to launch a professional body in 2020 has been supported by the Agricultural Productivity Working Group within the Food and Drink Sector Council and is being considered by government.   

Key Speakers:

• Simon Gadd – Vice Chair of the Senior Skills Leadership Group, Chair of the NFU Next Generation Forum
• Oli Lee – Vice Chair of the Senior Skills Leadership Group, NFU County Chairman
• John Shropshire OBE – Chairman of G’s Fresh
• Karen Halton – Strategic Dairy Farmer Award Winner
• John Charles Jones – NFU Member and Council Delegate

This is a free event and an Oxford Farming Conference ticket is not required for entry. The theme of the event is closely aligned to the other fringe events on this date, details of which are available here.

Please allow 10 minutes to collect your name badge and gain entry on the day.

We look forward to welcoming you at this exciting, future-focused discussion.