A survey of companies in the agri food sector in Northern Ireland has shown that 47% of employers are unable to recruit staff with the required level of skills.

The six-month consultation by the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) identified skills gaps, a lack of training and negative perceptions of working in agri food as issues for the industry.

The exercise also questioned school leavers, with 56% of respondents stating that they were unaware of the opportunities available within the agri food sector.

“Misconceptions about the sector, such as low pay, poor conditions, production line and shift work, are hurdles which must be overcome. In reality, the industry offers an array of options, competitive salaries and career development opportunities,” said Harry Hamilton from NIFDA.

Programme

A two-year programme has been launched with the aim of recruiting additional people into the industry by allowing businesses to engage with stakeholders such as schools, colleges, local councils and business support organisations.

Harvesting Tomorrow’s Skills is being led by NIFDA and funded by Invest NI to address the skills gap in the agri food sector and attract more young people into the industry.

Niall Casey from Invest NI said that the programme would allow companies and stakeholders to exploit opportunities to enhance the sector’s competitive edge with recruitment. “A well-trained workforce is critical to any business growth,” he said.

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