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

6. Step five – Preparing your ICIA

6.1 What are the likely significantly different effect of the policy, strategy or service?

The CPD system would be intended to have a positive impact on persons in the islands that are engaged in specific occupational groups in agriculture and crofting as it could help to encourage and facilitate personal and professional development, and improvement in practices, in agriculture, land management and other associated vocational fields.

The policy has been developed in line with other CPD systems in agriculture and other sectors. These take into account a wide range of different business types and sizes that are located in different geographical areas of Great Britain. The CPD system would be flexible in how CPD was undertaken and unless there were specific required elements, an individual would be able to decide on the activities and subjects that are relevant to contribute to their personal and professional development. There would also be exemptions built into the system to cater for a number of life events (eg pregnancy, maternity leave, paternity leave and ill-health etc).

• What is the extent to which you consider that the policy, strategy or service can be developed or delivered in such a manner as to improve or mitigate, for island communities, the outcomes resulting from it?

CPD is intended to have a positive impact on persons in the islands that are engaged in specific occupational groups in agriculture and crofting as it could help to encourage and facilitate personal and professional development, and improvement in practices, in agriculture, land management and other associated vocational fields. It could help people to think about their own personal and professional development and the skills and knowledge that they require, including consideration of their strengths and gaps in knowledge, and to take actions to develop them. This could have positive benefits in a range of outcomes, as well as more knowledgeable and skilled persons within agriculture and crofting.

6.2 Consider alternative delivery mechanisms and whether further consultation is required.

We have considered a range of options as to how CPD could be most effectively delivered, including delivery mechanisms, where there are alternative approaches, and how the CPD system would link to Scottish government outcomes for agriculture through the Agricultural Reform Programme and the Vision for Agriculture. We consider that a CPD for occupational groups within agriculture would be the best way to achieve personal and professional development within the sector as a whole. More widely, CPD has been recognised as an important way to undertake life-long learning and personal development.

As the development of the CPD system is ongoing, and there is a need for us to adopt a co-development role with stakeholders, further consultation will be undertaken. This will include specific impact on the islands.

6.3 Describe how these alternative delivery mechanisms will improve or mitigate outcomes for island communities.

As noted, we consider that a CPD system could be the best way to deliver personal and professional development for specific occupational groups in agriculture.

6.4 Identify resources required to improve or mitigate outcomes for island communities.

The Scottish Government currently provides 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. In addition, 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 throughout Scotland. There is also a range of support provided specifically for crofters, including the Crofting Groups under the Farm Advisory Service, and support through the Crofting Commission. Other organisations across the sector provide a range of activities – including seminars, meetings, farm visits - that can also count towards CPD.

When developing a range of activities through the CPD system and the Farm Advisory Service that can contribute towards CPD, cognisance would be given to the characteristics of the farming and crofting businesses and communities on the islands, such as: age of the population; connectivity; travel distance; part-time nature of businesses; revenue of businesses; and general accessibility of the system. These are also issues that apply to other parts of Scotland and are being considered during the development of the CPD system.