Apprentice programme launched at Fruit Show

At the National Fruit Show 2011 in Detling, Kent, Mark Lumsden-Taylor, Hadlow College Director of Finance and Resources, said, "The British fruit industry needs – and deserves – high calibre entrants focused on making successful careers. We at Hadlow College aim to be the catalysts that will help to forge that future."
The Apprenticeships will be fully validated by City and Guilds. The intention is to produce people who will be capable of fulfilling roles at supervisory and junior management levels.
The background to this initiative is the research undertaken with consultative groups – and with particular help and guidance from CHARLES TASSEL, CLA member and County Chairman, Kent NFU.  
The research indicated several problems. Firstly, the industry's current dependence on people from former Eastern bloc countries.  Many people outside the industry perceive immigrant involvement as restricted to seasonal work - most especially at harvesting time - but that is not so.  
Originally almost entirely from Poland - today the majority of people who come from abroad to work in the industry are from Rumania and Bulgaria.  When they arrive in the UK, many of them are already highly skilled and a notable proportion hold relevant qualifications at a variety of levels including degrees. Growers describe them as 'motivated', 'flexible', hard-working', 'focused'.
On the other hand, the small numbers of UK nationals entering the industry are generally described as 'unmotivated', 'disinterested' and 'downright lazy'.  Most have not entered by choice because they perceive the industry offers good career progression opportunities. Instead, they have either been virtually drafted in - or have drifted in - because they couldn't obtain 'anything more worthwhile'.
The perception of what the industry has to offer is the biggest single barrier to obtaining high calibre British entrants.  "We believe the institution of Level 3 Apprenticeships - with the expectation that candidates will proceed to Level 4 - will help to solve this problem," said Mark Lumsden-Taylor. "All the growers with whom we have consulted agreed that they would be prepared to accept British apprentices of the right calibre."
Employers will be paying the Apprentices. "We are seeking money from the private sector to fund Apprentice training," said Mr Lumsden-Taylor. "Giving the private sector the opportunity to invest in the future of the industry means we can open up the opportunities to a wider age group and include applicants with higher academic qualifications - both these categories are currently ineligible for entry to government schemes."
Restricting financial investment to the private sector will also mean that sponsors can derive optimum PR and other benefits.  They will have their own named apprentice and will be able to follow progress, liaise with employers and generally extend the linkages that are vital to the sector.  Prefixing individual apprenticeships with the sponsor's title will benefit the sponsor – the Apprentice – and the fruit sector in entirety. 
"We invite all of you here today to get involved in whatever way possible," said Mr Lumsden-Taylor. "Help us to find sponsors. Even better – be a sponsor."