Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system in Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme: Island Communities Impact Assessment

2. Step One – Develop a clear understanding of your objectives

In the autumn of 2026 the Scottish Government is consulting on a CPD system as part of Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme. The consultation asks a series of questions about proposals for a system, including approaches that could be undertaken and policies. Scottish Ministers have not taken any decisions on the introduction of the CPD system, its approach and policies. The consultation will provide further evidence to inform any decisions that they make on such a system in due course.

The need for enhanced fit-for-purpose training, education and skills to enable farmers to improve their profitability and to become greener was highlighted by the national discussion on the future of Scottish agriculture in 2015-16. A future strategy for Scottish agriculture of May 2018, recommended that “new policies must include a major increase in knowledge transfer effort, to help the industry reap the benefits of both existing and new research and development on, for example, reducing animal diseases or improving soil organic matter.” It also recommended that “there should be more advice and training, and in particular greater emphasis on business skills, as well as technical farming and land management skills.”

The responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation Agriculture Transition in Scotland: first steps towards our national policy of August 2021, continued to show the importance attached to knowledge exchange, skills development and innovation in agriculture, with most respondents attaching a high level of importance to them. Many respondents described them as vital, critical, salient, fundamental and essential for the future of the agricultural industry.

The consultation asked the question “Should continuing professional development be mandatory for businesses receiving public support funding?”. There were mixed responses over whether CPD should be mandatory for businesses receiving public support. However, half of the respondents to the consultation (49%) agreed that continuing professional development (CPD) should be a mandatory condition for businesses to receive publicly-funded support. Just over a quarter (27%) disagreed, and the remaining ones were unsure (18%) or did not answer (5%). Similar levels of agreement were recorded by individuals (50%) and organisations (46%). However, individuals were more likely to disagree with mandatory CPD (compared to 21% of organisations).

The Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture, published in March 2022, outlined our long term vision to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. It states that it will work with and alongside farmers, crofters and land managers to ensure that they have the right support to identify and develop the skills needed for regenerative and sustainable farming, changes of land use and adaptation to the changing climate and to encourage co-operative approaches to optimise collaboration and knowledge exchange.

In August 2022, the Scottish Government ran a public consultation entitled Delivering our Vision for Scottish Agriculture: Proposals for a new Agriculture Bill. This consultation set out proposals to deliver the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture, including its proposals for skills, knowledge transfer and innovation. On the support for knowledge transfer, innovation and skills development, the vast majority (92%) of respondents to this question agreed that support should continue to be provided in the area of skills, knowledge transfer, and innovation, while 3% disagreed. Many respondents noted that this support was crucial for there to be thriving agricultural, crofting and agricultural sectors in the future. Support was viewed as vital to attract new entrants into the sector and encourage new delivery methods and innovative solutions, and explore activities through acquiring new skills, and from learning from other areas. There were also calls for a greater emphasis on continuous improvement.

The resulting Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill was laid before the Scottish Parliament in September 2022. The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 was passed by parliament on 18 June 2024 and received Royal Assent on 30 July 2024. It provides the legal framework to deliver a number of policies including:

• the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture;
• the National Performance Framework outcomes;
• Programme for Government policy programme priorities;
• emissions and nature restoration targets;
• building on minimum regulatory standards;
• Just Transition which supports agriculture, land integration and land use change in a way that follows the Just Transition principles;
• A system for CPD – Continuing Professional Development;
• Support for knowledge, innovation, education and training;
• value for money; and
• broad alignment to EU CAP objectives.

The Act sets out that Scottish Ministers may make regulations that impose CPD requirements on a range of specific occupational groups. These are farmers, crofters, land managers, those who work in agriculture (whether or not as employees) such as farm workers or family members or friends who assist with farming activities or other persons directly or indirectly connected with farming etc.

This proposal is to set up a CPD system to provide specific occupational groups of people (and individuals within them) including farmers, crofters, land managers, persons who provide relevant advice to them, as well as others who provide advice or services in or for rural communities throughout Scotland, with a framework to undertake CPD and participate in a range of CPD activities. As noted, Ministers have not taken any decisions on the introduction of a CPD system.

The CPD system would be, in essence, a framework to support personal and professional development. While a CPD system has requirements that are to be met by an individual, they also have some flexibility in how they can undertake aspects of their personal and professional development to meet their needs.

The immediate objective of establishing a CPD system would be to encourage and facilitate personal and professional development, and improvement in practices, in agriculture, land management and other associated vocational fields. The system would include monitoring and evaluation and this would be an integral part of the CPD system (it has been included as a mandatory part of each CPD scheme).

CPD forms part of Tier 4 (“complementary support”) of the Agricultural Reform Programme. Whilst it is a standalone Tier, it also underpins and helps to support the other Tiers. As with the other support in Tier 4, it could help to contribute to the five strategic outcomes of the Agricultural Reform Programme. It could help to support a Just Transition in respect of skills, knowledge exchange, wellbeing and mental health and access to services. It could have downstream benefits for the four outcomes in the Programme:

• High Quality Food Production
• Thriving Agricultural Businesses
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Nature Restoration.

It could also help meet short, medium and long-term outcomes of the Agricultural Reform Programme. The short-term outcomes include the following:

• Knowledge and skills - farmers / crofters / land managers have improved knowledge of and skills in regenerative, sustainable and efficient practices
• Behaviour change – farmers / crofters / land managers have implemented regenerative and sustainable practices on farms / crofts / land
• Relationships – there could be improved connections / networks between farmers / crofters / land managers
• Workforce – women could have improved opportunities in the sector; there could be improved work readiness and employability of young farmers / new entrants.

It could help to contribute towards the outcomes in the Vision for Scottish Agriculture. In particular this relates to skills and co-operative approaches to optimise collaboration and knowledge exchange.

While the CPD system would apply to all of Scotland, it could also help contribute towards the strategic objectives of the National Islands Plan, namely, strategic objectives:

• Economic, education and skills;
• Climate, nature and energy;
• Empowered communities and culture.

The policy could help contribute to the following national outcomes:

• we have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy;
• we live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe;
• we have thriving and innovative businesses, with quality jobs and fair work for everyone;
• we are well educated, skilled and able to contribute to society;
• and we respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination.

The CPD system is a new policy. The Scottish Government does not currently provide a CPD system for farmers, crofters and land manager or others involved in Scottish agriculture, though a number of industry bodies, including AHDB do. However, it does provide a range of support through the Farm Advisory Service, and its range of knowledge activities. There are also opportunities through KTIF – Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund. Skills support is provided for example through the Practical Training Funds, including the Next Generation Practical Training Fund. All of these can be used to contribute to an individual’s CPD. Other organisations across the sector provide a range of activities – including seminars, meetings, farm visits - that can also count towards CPD.

The CPD system would be expected to cover all of Scotland. It does not make a difference between mainland or island areas nor any geographical areas in Scotland. It would apply equally throughout the geography of Scotland.