The total regional land-based workforce is an estimated 28,200, accounting for 1.2% of total regional employment compared with 1.4%in England.  Employment in the region is concentrated in agricultural livestock (24%); landscaping (29%); agricultural crops (13%); trees and timber (7%); and environmental conservation (8%).

There are approximately 4,800 businesses operating wholly or principally in the land-based sector.  For the North East, with its contrasting urban and rural mix, land based industries such as animal care and trees and timber are of economic importance and environmental value in the region as have the highest concentration of businesses.

Key statistics on the region:

• 89.2% of businesses employ less than 10 people or no staff
• 76.1% of the workforce are staff, 23.9% are proprietors
• 29.8% of the workforce are aged 25-44 years (compared to 36.1% in all sectors)
• 66.8% aged over 45 years (compared to 52.5% in all sectors)
• most common annual business turnover is £100,000
• the number of vacancies and skills gaps are too low to report

Businesses in the region need the following skills: communication (89.2%); planning and organisation (86.2%); customer relations (84.6%); and numeracy (84.6%).  In the future, advanced level skills will be required for planning and organisation, plus environmental management.  All occupational categories have indicated a requirement to move to an increased demand for higher level skills, from intermediate and basic.

Education and training providers in the region offer both full-time and part-time learning, work-based learning, technical skill development and continuing professional development.  43.1% of establishments report that general training courses are available to the workforce.  Of those establishments that access training courses, 39.3% use certificated training.

Higher education provision is only available in five of the industries within the sector, with approximately six providers offering 18 courses and programmes regionally.  In 2003/04, there were only 77 enrolments on environmental and land-based sector related higher education courses.

Key drivers in the region:

• diversification into non-farming activities is expected to increase across agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture
• pressure on fossil fuels will lead to an increase in bio-fuel crops which is of importance, especially in Northumberland where there are a number of businesses addressing alternative fuel source
• the region has an excess of local produce marques, and this is a developing economy with new skills issues
• european migrant workers are not a large feature of the working population in the region
• there is a growing concern regarding migration of locals away from the region

Source: Lantra North East Region Consultation 2005 and Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Annex 2.6 2005

For data on regional workforce by industry see:

Distribution of Lantra workforce in the North East, 2005