Transferable skills in land-based and aquaculture sectors: review

Executive Summary

This report provides an overview of research undertaken to identify transferable skills within Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors. The research was conducted in response to Recommendation 12 from the Commission for the Land-based Learning Review (2023),^[4] which called for the identification of key transferable skills required across various job roles within these sectors.

Transferable skills are skills that enable workers to perform effectively across a variety of situations. The identification of transferable skills is essential for developing adaptability within the workforce and ensuring workers are equipped to respond to shifts in skills demand. This research also aligns with the Scottish Government’s commitment to a Just Transition, as it anticipates a need for workers to transition from carbon-intensive roles to ‘green jobs’, which may require skill transfer. Additionally, there is a significant demand for seasonal workers in the land-based and aquaculture sectors, given the high proportion of seasonal jobs and the decline in the numbers of international seasonal workers travelling to work in Scotland post-EU exit.^[5] Identifying transferable skills can help support seasonal workers to apply their expertise across multiple roles year-round.

This research involved three stages:

1. An international evidence review of literature on transferable skills in the land-based and aquaculture sectors. This review identified current knowledge on transferable skills in the sectors. 28 relevant publications were reviewed.

2. A content analysis of the careers page on Lantra’s (a skills training organisation in the land-based and aquaculture sectors) website. Analysis of the 246 career profiles listed on the website to identify which professions and industries have overlaps in their skill sets.

3. 10 interviews with key stakeholders in the land-based and aquaculture sectors in Scotland. The interviews helped assess the findings from the first two stages and offered further insights into the benefits and challenges of skill transfer.

Transferable skills include both technical and non-technical skills that enable workers to adapt across different roles and industries. Employers may be willing to hire candidates with strong transferable skills, even if they lack technical expertise.

Verbal communication, teamwork, and IT skills are the most transferable skills across the land-based and aquaculture sectors. This can vary across industries, as some fields have skills that are particularly transferable within them. Furthermore, the most transferable skills vary across job grades. Skills like staff supervision and business and finance are more transferable between senior roles, while coordination and teamwork are more important in supervised roles. However, many of these highly transferable skills are in short supply across the sectors, making them important areas for future skills training.

While many roles demand highly specialised technical skills that may not easily transfer between professions or industries, some technical skills are transferable, including tree planting, data analysis, and some advanced IT skills. The use of some machinery, such as 360 excavators and rough terrain forklifts, is also transferable, provided workers have adequate training in applying these skills in new environments or industries. Technical knowledge, such as expertise in soil science or the ability to identify different plants, can also be highly transferable.

There are several benefits of developing workers’ transferable skills. Improving transferable skills can help workers diversify their income, access funding, and be more flexible to move between industries. Improving these skills can also bring indirect benefits, such as fostering creativity, broadening perspectives, and providing social networks and support across industries. However, there are several barriers to effective skill transfer in the sectors, including mindset challenges and a lack of confidence. Other obstacles, such as limited short-term accommodation or the timing of seasonal work, can also reduce opportunities for skill transfer. Additional barriers to upskilling transferable skills within Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors include limited business capacity and the location of training courses.

Transferable skills are vital for the Just Transition, as they enhance workforce flexibility and reduce the risk of job displacement. Furthermore, the Just Transition is driving the hybridisation (increasing overlap) of roles and increasing demand for cross-sector skills, making certain skills more transferable. For example, conservation knowledge and both basic and advanced IT skills are gaining in importance across the sectors.

IT skills and people skills, such as verbal communication and teamwork, are highly transferable across the land-based and aquaculture sectors. However, this may conflict with some perceptions of the most significant skills in the sectors, and awareness should be raised about the transferability of people skills. Some technical skills, including advanced digital skills, data management, tree planting, and the use of some pieces of machinery, are also transferable. However, some roles require highly specialised technical skills, making them less suitable for skills transfer. Many of the most transferable skills are in short supply across both sectors.

This research has also identified industries with overlapping skill sets. The content analysis revealed three clusters of industries with similar skills: Agri-Environment, Animal and Logistics, and Natural Resources and Conservation. In the future, upskilling courses and training could be coordinated using these clusters. Importantly, the Just Transition is driving new skill overlaps, with roles becoming increasingly hybridised.

This research has highlighted two key areas for further investigation. First, there is a need for more information on the specific skills the future workforce will require. Second, while transferring skills across multiple seasonal jobs can be challenging, future research could explore how some seasonal workers do effectively use transferable skills to navigate multiple seasonal roles across the sectors.