A farming industry project that has successfully helped hundreds of young people into the industry is now working nationwide.
After two successful years as a pilot project in the East of England, EDGE (which stands for Educate, Develop, Grow, Employ) is entering its next phase, working with training providers across the UK to support young people to gain their first job in the food & farming industry. The project will continue to match employers with young people who are taking their first steps from education into training and employment.
Having been known as ‘EDGE Apprenticeships’ since its launch in March 2013, the programme is now ‘EDGE Careers’, widening its remit to support young people into all aspects of work, study and training alongside apprenticeships, which will continue to be the mainstay of the service.
EDGE Project Manager Richard Self said: “Over the past two years, we have helped match more than 500 young people with employers across the East of England. We know there is a huge demand for this to become a nationwide offering, proven by the fact that we are currently working with businesses in 12 counties and we have 150 young people from across the country signed up with EDGE Careers looking for their first job or apprenticeship.”
Richard continues, “EDGE Careers recognises the importance of supporting employers through the employment process and making it as straightforward as possible for them, from how they go about finding a suitable candidate to interviewing, hiring and then support if they have any problems. We are helping employers take the future of their businesses into their own hands.”
NFU East Anglia Regional Director Robert Sheasby, one of the project’s industry partners, said: “Collectively, the food and farming sector contributes £103 billion to the UK economy so it’s a hugely important industry. Its continued success depends on attracting the right people, with the right skills, to become the farmers of tomorrow.
“EDGE Careers has already played a key role in promoting food and farming careers to young people in our region and working with employers to help them fill vacancies. It’s good news that the success achieved in East Anglia will now be replicated in other parts of the country.”
Jake Mutten from Anglia Salads in Essex has found an apprentice through EDGE Careers. He said: “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for the young and
enthusiastic, as well as us, the employer. Within the industry it is key to have a level of dedication for the type of work, because of the pressures that come with it.
“The roles we offer are demanding and time consuming, but incredibly rewarding. It is therefore vital that we find suitable candidates who are willing to develop their skills in many different roles. Growing and harvesting anything is exciting and full of variety, which is why it is such an interesting industry to be in.
“EDGE Careers provides a great opportunity to enhance any business’ future and, working alongside local colleges, give students a great vocational option.
“EDGE Careers has aided us to take on an apprentice, who I would take great satisfaction in seeing guided through the company, beginning with the basics with a long term aim of climbing up to a higher position.
“Whether these apprentices become skilled workers or managers doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we set ourselves a base of young and enthusiastic staff, who have the devotion and determination to achieve to a high standard.”
EDGE Careers are also working closely with The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Lantra and the NFU in the preliminary stages of developing new Trailblazer apprenticeship standards for the industry. Once finalised, these standards will be rolled out across the UK over the coming years.
