Independent Commission for Land-Based Learning - review and implementation plan: SG response - progress report
Progress of the actions in response to all the recommendations from the Review of Land-Based Learning in the 12 months since the Scottish Government response report was published.
Recommendation 13:
Ensure learning from interventions such as the Women in Agriculture Taskforce and Women in Scottish Aquaculture is used to inform actions to attract more women into sectors where there is a gender imbalance.
Recommendation 13.1:
Ensure learning from interventions supports other groups which are under-represented in the Sector.
Outputs:
Examples of good practice and evidence of barriers and challenges gathered from desk-based research, and shared with relevant sectors.
Implementing Actions:
Provide grant funding to relevant stakeholder organisations (set out in the table below), supporting a number of programmes empowering women living and working in the agricultural sector.
Engage regularly with relevant stakeholders to continue support where required, and to ensure grant funding KPIs are met.
Gather examples of good practice from Women in Agriculture, Women in Scottish Aquaculture, Scottish Government Practical Training Funds (PTFs), stakeholder organisations, Industry Leadership Groups and skills groups.
Gather information on barriers from Women in Agriculture, Women in Scottish Aquaculture, Scottish Government Practical Training Funds, sector groups and delivery organisations.
Gather information from Women in Agriculture Programme Outcomes Mapping.
Quarterly meeting between Women in Agriculture and Women in Business team.
Work with Scottish Government policy teams and organisations that comprise of and work with under-represented groups.
Gather any relevant information from the development of the Gender Strategy for Agriculture that can be used by other sectors with a gender imbalance.
Progress Update
We continue to support and provide grant funding to a number of organisations working to empower women living and working in agriculture, and as a result improve their lives, encourage business innovation (and therefore resilience), and increase equality of opportunity throughout the sector.
In 2024-25, we committed £600,000 to deliver support for:
- Women in Agriculture (WiA) Knowing Your Business
- WiA Practical Training Fund
- Gender Strategy for Agriculture
- Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) Board Training
- Crofting Federation
- Grass Ceiling
- WiA Scotland group
A contract has been awarded for a survey of agricultural households. The results are expected to be available towards the end of 2025/26.
The Gender Strategy for Agriculture, which is currently being developed. Stakeholder roundtables are expected to take place towards the end of 2025/26.
Timescales
August 2024 to April 2035 - in progress.
Milestones
Provision of grant funding to relevant stakeholders, supporting a number of programmes empowering women living and working in the agricultural sector
Continued engagement with stakeholders – complete.
Designing an agricultural household survey to be conducted and analysed to understand the prevalence of child poverty within the agricultural population - in progress.
Desk-based research, including using data from the Scottish Government Practical Training Funds’ reports on uptake and interest - in progress.
Bank of good practice examples that can be shared with stakeholders, funders and training providersm - in progress.
Continued development of the Gender Strategy - in progress.
Contact
Email: ruralpolicymailbox@gov.scot