The production horticulture industry is concerned principally with the production of fruit, vegetables, glasshouse crops, plants, flowers and bulbs, nursery stock, tree production and mushrooms.  The industry is under severe pressure as there is competition from imports, input restrictions, tight margins, environmental constraints and labour issues.

Total UK employment in the industry is 95,166.  There are an estimated 9,646 businesses in the industry, contributing £1,928 million to Gross Domestic Product.

Key statistics on the industry:

• 71.3% of businesses employ less than 10 people
• 72.5% of proprietors are male
• 53.9% of staff are male
• proprietors are commonly aged 55-65 years
• staff are commonly aged 20-24 years
• 7.7% of proprietors are 35 years or under
• 10.5% of employees are aged over 55 years
• 7.5% of all establishments report vacancies
• 5.4% report that these vacancies are hard-to-fill and 2.2% are skill shortage vacancies

The industry suffers poor wages (caused by low profitability) attracting low skilled workers, has a high turn-over of staff, and has recruitment problems.  These problems affect larger companies, whereas the self-employed are well skilled.

Enrolments in production horticulture are predominantly in further education, over 13,500 enrolments.  In the UK the majority of enrolments are part-time (69%), whilst the gender split is fairly even between male and female enrolments.

In total, there were 618 higher education enrolments in the UK in 2003/04.  Employers have, however, reported that students on degree and HND courses have insufficient practical skills.

Basic skills of literacy, numeracy and communication skills are poor amongst local staff and migrant workers, who are making up the majority of the workforce.  There is a lack of structured apprenticeships and training in the industry.  Language skills and health and safety skills are also a problem particularly as the number of migrant workers is growing.  Over the next 3-5 years, skills gaps are likely to be the same, but more pronounced.

Skills shortages are reported for recruiting quantity surveyors.  There are difficulties in recruiting specialist trades people, which has resulted in the expectation in smaller companies for staff to be multi-skilled.

A projected increase in the use of casual and seasonal staff is expected in the future.

Industry drivers affecting future work and employment include:

• changing businesses practices resulting from globalisation, traceability, labeling, quality, climate changes, diversification and new technologies
• the need for safer working environments
• new approaches to land management and regional regeneration including the implementation of new Rural Development Regulations
• legislation framework for environmental management and the need to manage waste and reduce associated costs
• changing demographics and labour trends affecting staff retention and new entrants

Source: Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Key Drivers of Skill Demand 2005, Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Annex 2.7 2005 and Production Horticulture Industry report 2005

For regional distribution of businesses and employees in the industry see:

Proportion of production horticulture businesses and workforce by region and nation, 2005