Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system in Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme – Partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment – August 2026

Section 1: Background, aims and options

Background to policy issue

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, 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 quarter were unsure (18%) or did not answer (5%). Similar levels of agreement were recorded by individuals (50%) and organisations (46%).

The importance of knowledge and skills to help drive change within Scottish agriculture was reflected in its inclusion in Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture, published in March 2022. It 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 those who responded 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 in order for there to be thriving agricultural, crofting and agricultural sectors in the future. Support was viewed as vital to attract new entrants into the sectors and encourage new delivery methods, innovative solutions, and activities to be explored through acquiring new skills, and also 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.

More specifically, the Act sets out that Scottish Ministers may make regulations that impose CPD requirements on farmers, crofters, land managers, those who work in agriculture (whether or not as employees) such as farm workers. CPD relates to any type of learning that is undertaken that increases knowledge, understanding and experiences of a subject area or role.

The Scottish Government provides a range of support on knowledge transfer and exchange 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 wide range of activities – including seminars, meetings, farm visits - that can also count towards CPD.

The Scottish Government does not currently provide a CPD system for farmers, crofters and land manager or others involved in Scottish Government, though a number of industry bodies, including AHDB do. There is also provision in Wales by the Welsh Government in Farming Connect and in the Republic of Ireland. The benefits of having CPD in these other countries has been clearly recognised.

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.

Purpose / aim of action and desired effect

The CPD system would 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.

The CPD system is 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 could form 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 would 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.

The policy of the CPD system could 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; we respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination.

Options (considered so far / still open)

As noted, Scottish Ministers have not made any decisions on the CPD system.

The options that are available to the Scottish Government are:

Option 1: Set up a CPD system for specific occupational groups within agriculture and crofting with a framework to undertake CPD and participate in a range of CPD activities.

This was an option that had been identified by and requested by stakeholders. This option could not be taken forward without powers being available to Ministers. Provision has been made in sections 30 and 31 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024. The CPD system would be implemented through secondary legislation. This would enable the transparent development and operation of the CPD system, ensure that it is accountable, proportionate, consistent and targeted where appropriate.

The system could also result in better outcomes for the agriculture and crofting sectors in meeting the Vision for Scottish Agriculture. This is because it would achieve this through an enabling framework that would apply to specific occupational groups within agriculture and crofting.

Within this option, there is need to consider what elements of CPD should be required to be undertaken as opposed to what elements an individual could chose to undertake. Consultation within Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate and its stakeholders groups, as well as wider public sector bodies and stakeholders will help to identify and clarify what these are.

Option 2: Do not set up a CPD system for specific occupational groups within agriculture and crofting with a framework to undertake CPD and participate in a range of CPD activities.

There would not be a focal point for CPD activities across the different occupational groups in Scottish agriculture. It would not encourage increased uptake of CPD across the occupational groups. It would be up to each individual in all the occupational groups in agriculture and crofting to decide what knowledge and skills development activities that they want to undertake in order to develop themselves personally and professionally.

However, while Ministers could support some CPD activities, for example through the Farm Advisory Service, a framework could not be developed that resulted in a CPD system that was transparent, accountable, proportionate, consistent and targeted where appropriate. It would also not lead to or have the desired outcomes that a CPD system would have. This has been demonstrated by research undertaken in other countries such as the Republic of Ireland. This has shown that the use of a CPD system is an important way to make agricultural education and training available, and to make changes, for example in helping farmers to improve efficiency, increase awareness of regulations, enhance their ability to access finance and provide them with better structures for recruitment and management of staff.

Sectors / Groups affected

As noted, Scottish Ministers have not made any decisions on the CPD system.

It is expected that the CPD system would apply to 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. This would affect all the businesses within these occupational groups throughout Scotland.

According to the June Returns 2025 the total agricultural workforce was 66,800 persons. There were 35,212 working occupiers as well as 23,419 full time and part time staff and 8,142 casual and seasonal workers. It is not known how many people provide advice and services to Scottish agriculture. This total is shown in the following tables.

Source: June Returns 2025 Table 8

Source: June Returns 2025 Table 9

In 2025 most holdings have a single person or related individuals legally responsible for them. Where legal responsibility had been declared, nearly all holdings (96%) of the 23,400 holdings for which there is information had had either one person or two or more related people with legal responsibility for the holding. These holdings accounted for 74% of agricultural land. Land that an organisation had legal responsibility for made up 3.5% of holdings, covering 24% of the total agricultural land area.

Evidence for the agricultural workforce by farm type is available in June 2025 (Table 3).

Source: Scottish agricultural census, 2025

* Workforce numbers do not adjust for full time equivalent (FTE)

** includes workforce data for holdings with an undetermined farm type.

Specialist sheep (LFA) farms are the largest employer in Scottish agriculture in terms of workforce number, with 22.35% of the Scottish agricultural workforce. They also have the second lowest average workforce of just under 2 employees per holding. However, on specialist sheep (LFA) farms only 1% if the workforce are full-time employees, spread across 10% of holdings. Some 73% of specialist sheep (LFA) farm staff are occupiers and spouses.

In contrast, 79% of specialist dairy farms employ full-time staff. They make up 65% of the workforce. A relatively lower proportion of the workforce on specialist dairy farms (10%) are occupiers and spouses. Specialist beef farms are less likely to employ full time staff (31%). They represent 22% of the workforce. Some 58% of specialist beef farm staff are occupiers and spouses.

Different crops have different labour requirements. Specialist cereal holdings rely on a mix of occupiers and spouses who account for 55% of the workforce, and employees, for 45%. On general cropping holdings, 42% of labour is from occupiers and spouses and 58% from hired employees. Horticulture is more reliant on hired labour with some 24% of the workforce being full- or part-time employees, while 62% are casual or seasonal staff.

It is expected that the CPD system and associated CPD activities would be delivered through procurement and delivered by a third party. However, it is anticipated that activities that can count towards CPD can be delivered throughout the agriculture and related sectors, for example attendance at particular meetings, events, farm walks, farm visits. Some of these activities may be within existing activities and workstreams that are already being provided. Some of the provision would be by businesses while others would be organisations, or by organisations asking specific businesses to undertake an activity such as arranging and holding a farm walk or a farm demonstration.