Land-based learning review and plan – second progress report: SG response

Report on Progress of the Recommendations

The details of the Output, Implementing Actions, Implementation Plan Milestones and Timescales are reproduced from the Implementation Plan. The Progress updates explain the progress from April 2025 to Jan 2026. The Recommendations that were complete at the June 2025 Progress Report are included to maintain a full record of Implementation Plan delivery.

Recommendation 1 : Work towards the reframing of the land-based sectors as nature-based.

Output

A Scottish Government decision on whether to work towards adopting the term “nature-based” to refer to the land-based and aquaculture sectors collectively.

Implementing Actions

We will undertake research and engagement to inform a decision on adopting the term “nature-based” and have already commenced work to develop this with Lantra. Timescales are still to be established. The findings from the research and engagement will be used to understand key relevant groups’ views, i.e. young people, and potential career changers, on using the term and the potential to contribute to attracting more people to work in the sector.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Research completed 2025 – complete within this reporting period.

Stakeholder consultation and workshop held 2025 – complete within this reporting period.

Implementation Plan Timescales

Initial development and potential research 2024/2025 – complete within this reporting period.

Analysis and engagement 2025 – complete within this reporting period.

Advice to Ministers for decision in 2025 – complete January 2026.

Progress Update

We funded Lantra Scotland to carry out a small research project with secondary school pupils and career influencers on their understanding of ‘land-based’ and ‘nature-based’. The research found that ‘nature-based’ did not improve people’s understanding of the sectors or career opportunities. The findings were considered at a stakeholder event with 50 participants. There was no consensus that ‘nature-based’ was an accurate, useful umbrella term. It was concluded that reframing is unlikely to produce the anticipated benefits. We aim to publish the research report in March 2026.

On the basis of this evidence and engagement, Scottish Government decided it is not beneficial to lead a reframing of the land-based sectors as nature-based and there is no requirement for a wider communications strategy (Recommendation 1.1).

Clearly, stakeholders should use terminology, including nature-based, land-based or language specific to their sector, or a combination that is likely to have most effective impact for their requirements, particularly to encourage people to consider careers in these sectors. This Recommendation is now complete.

Recommendation 1.1 : Develop an effective communications strategy to support the reframing of the Sector.

Output

Delivery of a communications strategy to support reframing to nature-based in the first quarter of 2025 (subject to decision on Recommendation 1).

Implementing Actions

We will develop a communications strategy with stakeholders to support a wider understanding and use of the term ‘nature-based’. This will be progressed by Scottish Government staff working with stakeholders and via their networks.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Communication plan developed with stakeholders 2025 – not required as reframing is not supported by the research and engagement, recorded as complete.

Implementation Plan Timescale

Deliver a communications strategy 2025/26 – not required as reframing is not supported by the research and engagement.

Progress Update

The decision on Recommendation 1 was to not reframe the land-based sectors as ‘nature-based’ and therefore delivery of a wider communications strategy is not required. This Recommendation is now complete.

Recommendation 2 : Establish clear progressive experiences for nature-based learning and climate literacy across all levels of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Recommendation 2.1 : Identify ways to support an increase in Sector school/college partnership learning pathways, offered and undertaken by schools.

Output

Desk-based research, mapping out the current land-based and aquaculture learning pathways.

A workshop with stakeholders to identify good practice and barriers.

A paper, collating evidence and identifying ways to support an increase in sector school/college and other partnerships.

Education Scotland engagement on key lessons learned with schools and colleges on land-based and aquaculture learning pathways.

Implementing Actions

Preliminary research, reaching out to key partners, to map the land-based and aquaculture learning pathways which currently exist across Scotland.

Present research to Education Scotland’s Learner Pathways co-design group and undertake discussion on what’s working well – why is it working well? What barriers are being faced in other areas?

Production of paper to support improvement.

Education Scotland to engage schools/colleges nationally on the issue.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Research and discussions with key stakeholders to understand what learner pathways are already available for land-based learning, July to October 2024 -complete within this reporting period.

Education Scotland to convene the meeting of the Learner Pathways Co-Design Group to present findings of preliminary research and undertake a fuller discussion of the barriers and opportunities that currently exist in relation to sector specific pathways – complete within this reporting period.

Production of a paper following workshop discussions including actions to support an increase in sector specific school/college partnerships where this is in line with regional economic needs and the college’s strategic planning – complete within this reporting period.

Education Scotland to take forward the suggestions in the paper – in progress.

Progress Update

Education Scotland and Scottish Government officials have been working with a committed and engaged group of partners to take forward this work.

Education Scotland and Scottish Government officials convened a Focus Group for this action. This included partners from: Scottish Government, Education Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority, Lantra, NatureScot, Scotland’s Rural College, Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, Food and Drinks Federation Scotland, Fife College, Inverness College, University of Highlands and Islands, West Lothian College, Dundee and Angus College, Highland Council, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Dumfries and Galloway, DYW Edinburgh, DYW Inverness & Central Highlands.

The group has completed the first three milestones listed above including the production of a status update paper on the current position of land-based and aquaculture learning pathways. The paper includes a stakeholder vision and further set of outline actions to progress.

The Implementation plan included reference to the Education Scotland Learner Pathways Co-Design group. Unfortunately, the co-design group is no longer active so the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Leads network was identified as a suitable alternative. A presentation was made to the network who provided valuable feedback and insight to this work which is reflected in the update paper.

In October, the Focus Group were invited to provide their suggestions on how to translate the visions expressed within the paper into reality. The group made a number of suggestions which are set out in the update paper under the "what next" / "Stakeholder goals and actions" sections. In order to take forward the suggestions, Education Scotland will share the finalised update paper with the Focus Group at a meeting in February 2026. This will be an opportunity to confirm how the agreed actions will be taken forward by the participating stakeholders. Following this discussion, we expect all milestones to be complete.

Recommendation 2.2 : Provide ongoing Career Long Professional Learning (CLPL) support for school-based staff and volunteers across all education authorities, supported by education providers to improve their knowledge and understanding of the opportunities within the Sector. Include practical training in supporting learning in the natural environment – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Recommendation 3 : Ensure that the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) Action Plan refresh encompasses strong progressive learning experiences relating to nature-based learning – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Recommendation 3.1 : Establish a robust approach to monitoring quality of the curriculum delivery of Learning for Sustainability (LfS), including the quantity and quality of nature-based and outdoor learning.

Output

A refreshed version of Education Scotland’s self-evaluation tool for LfS.

Implementing Actions

The Scottish Government will run a series of workshops with a group of stakeholders to collaboratively develop an approach to Measuring Success and Driving Improvement. Children and young people’s groups are being consulted on this work.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Embed this activity into the LfS refreshed Action Plan actions and milestones – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Establish LfS working group to lead development of approach Summer 2024 -complete within this reporting period.

Implementation Plan Timescales

2024-2025 – delayed but work is ongoing with plans to publish indicators for LfS in Spring 2026.

Progress Update

A working group for LfS indicators was established and created an updated version of the self-evaluation tool. Education Scotland ran engagement sessions with practitioners, local authority lead officers for LfS and a diverse group of LfS partner organisations. The feedback from these sessions was that a self-evaluation tool was not the right approach and that a lighter-touch, more accessible form of guidance would be preferred.

Therefore a new approach was taken to this work, focusing instead on simple indicators for LfS, and giving education settings the opportunity to share their LfS journeys and successes. This work has been informed by input from children and young people, who have helped co-develop accessible definitions for LfS.

Further work through the adult LfS Leadership Group Sprint Groups is under way to create a new set of accessible indicators for LfS, which Education Scotland plan to share with schools later this year, 2026.

Therefore the final outputs have been delayed to allow the incorporation of this work.

Recommendation 3.2 : Promote the delivery of more outdoor learning by supporting local authorities and colleges to undertake a review of their estate, to identify the potential for carbon reduction, climate change mitigation and the creation of accessible nature spaces.

Outputs

Creation of Discovery Trail and The Howff (sheltered outdoor learning space) on the Queen Margaret University (QMU) Campus, development of digital resources and the Masters Module. These resources are aimed at teachers, student teachers and local authorities etc.

The Climate Ready School Grounds (CRSG) project provides resources, case studies, School Grounds Climate survey, lesson plans and guidance for teachers and local authorities.

Guidance on developing interventions in school grounds to help support schools in creating more inspirational outdoor settings, including guidance to help create spaces that mitigate against climate based issues. This is aimed at schools and local authorities.

The Co-designing Sustainable Learning Settings project is about supporting the delivery of the Learning for Sustainability policy in our places and communities. This will be tested through delivering pilot projects which co-design sustainable learning settings in varied school contexts such as urban, rural and town settings.

The College Infrastructure Investment plan being developed in 2025 will identify net zero projects and evaluation guidance is likely to consider issues such as climate mitigation, carbon reduction and biodiversity.

Implementing Actions

Making Places for Outdoor Learning module and digital resources, which are aimed at e.g. teachers, student teachers and local authorities. School workshops to test ideas and develop action plans and case studies based on pilot projects.

Resources with design ideas, guidance, tools and risk assessments, aimed at e.g. schools and local authorities. Place-based workshops, case studies and guidance.

Implementation Plan Timescale and Milestones

Outdoor Learning Hub at QMU was officially launched by the Minister for Higher and Further Education in March 2024 - reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

CRSG project was launched in September 2023 - reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Outdoor spaces toolkit (now named Design Elements for School Grounds) - reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Co-designing Sustainable Learning Settings project starts in 2024/25 – complete within this reporting period.

Progress Update

School-related projects are now complete. In summary, these activities collectively help to embed outdoor learning within estate planning, and support the delivery of climate‑ready and inclusive learning environments while advancing Learning for Sustainability objectives. This Recommendation is now complete.

Recommendation 4 : Ensure funding to support core and innovative nature-based education and training programmes, to ensure sustainable provision to allow for fluctuating uptake.

Implementing Actions

In this challenging funding environment, the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council (SFC) continue to take a considered approach to college and university funding with the focus on sustainability and the delivery of high-quality provision to meet the needs of learners, employers, communities and regional economies. Institutions are responsible for their own sustainability and operational decisions, including course provision, and are best placed to respond flexibly to emerging trends at local and regional level.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Publication of Scottish Funding Council’s annual funding allocations for colleges and universities - reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Implementation Plan Timescales

The funding process for colleges and universities follows an annual cycle, through the SFC’s allocation process. SFC work closely with the sectors to identify the best split of the available resources, taking into account Government priorities and the sectors’ needs. The allocations enable colleges and universities to move forward with their planning for the forthcoming Academic Year and offering student places – complete.

Progress Update

The 2026-27 budget invests over £2.4bn in post school education and skills, which includes a significant real terms increase in our investment in Scotland’s College and University sectors so that people of all ages have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, while also ensuring that priority workforce needs are met. It is now for the Scottish Funding Council and the college sector to work closely to identify the best split of the available resources, taking into account Government priorities and the needs of the college sector. This Recommendation is now complete.

Recommendation 5 : Ensure that accreditation bodies (at all curriculum levels) have sufficient capacity to respond timeously to review existing awards and develop new awards, guaranteeing the skills and knowledge requirements of the Sector are met.

Output

Identify options for a change in scope with a view to providing advice to Ministers.

Implementing Actions

Flexible qualifications and the reform of the post-school education and skills system were highlighted in our response to the Review. As part of this work, a Short Life working group on the scope of accreditation has been established. A series of stakeholder events have also taken place. Ministers will be asked to consider options for change early in 2025.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Stakeholder engagement meetings carried out Autumn 2024 – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Short life working group meeting notes and action taken - Early 2025 – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Submission of advice to Ministers in Spring 2025 – The work of the short-life working group has been overtaken by the statutory review of the scope and location of the accreditation function. For the time being, this function will continue to sit within Qualifications Scotland.

Implementation Plan Timescales

Spring 2025 – complete within this reporting period.

Progress Update

Submission of advice to Ministers in Spring 2025. The work of the short-life working group has been overtaken by the statutory review of the scope and location of the accreditation function. For the time being, this function will continue to sit within Qualifications Scotland.

A sustainable and high quality post school education system is critical to Scotland's success. The Scottish Government is working closely with key stakeholders as they seek to respond to the various financial, demographic, geopolitical and technological challenges of the next ten years, in order to ensure a system that is fit for the future. This Recommendation is now complete.

Recommendation 6 : Contribute to the Skills delivery landscape independent review, ensuring that the complex needs of the sector are understood and addressed - completed prior to the development of the Implementation plan.

Recommendation 7 : Contribute to the Skills delivery landscape independent review, ensuring that the 16+ Data Hub captures the wide range of job roles undertaken across the Sector to allow for effective monitoring and impact.

Output

The issue of capturing job titles in the sector was raised by the Land-based Learning Review’s Co-Chair as part of their evidence to the Skills Delivery Landscape Review.

We will develop an understanding of the job titles and data sets used by the 16+ Data Hub to identify practicable opportunities for improvement to better reflect the range of careers in the sector.

Implementing Actions

Work with stakeholders, including Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Data Hub users to understand and identify opportunities for improvement.

Share the issues raised in the Land-based Learning Review regarding data sets and job titles with data collectors.

Work with users of data e.g. SDS, Lantra, careers advisors, local authorities to explore how jobs in the sector can be better captured.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Scope a project working with industry skills groups to provide an understanding of which job titles are priorities for change by spring 2025 - delayed but work is ongoing. Full achievement is still anticipated.

Implementation Plan Timescales

2024 – 2025 – Progress has been made to deliver this recommendation but not within the agreed timescale due to the development of the new 16+ Participation Portal. This work is ongoing. Full achievement is still anticipated by the end of March 2027 and available within SEEMiS at this point for young people’s preferred occupations to be captured.

Progress Update

We have met with SDS to discuss the new Participation Portal, its functionality and associated timelines for roll out. The new portal offers considerable potential for improved monitoring of interest in, and uptake of, careers within the sector. There was agreement that the job titles associated with our industries and those of others require updating, but to do so at this time is not possible.

SDS have started the initial scoping of this work and held preliminary discussions with SEEMiS, as a key partner. They will be looking to ensure that updates made to the list of Preferred Occupations accurately reflect all sectors of the economy, and it will be essential that they engage with key stakeholders to update this list.

Commitment to work together over the coming year was made to continue progressing this Recommendation.

Recommendation 8 : Support the retention of critical Higher Education (HE) provision in areas such as forestry and aquaculture by developing innovative ways to extend the reach of their delivery.

Output

A Scottish Government led skills planning approach will help develop a better understanding of skills needs at the national level and how we can better address them, particularly where solutions lie within the education and skills system.

This work will be critical in ensuring that the system is more responsive and in a better position to meet our economic, environmental and social needs and ambitions.

However, universities and colleges are responsible for their curriculum and course choices responding to local, regional, national and in some cases international economic need and learner demands.

Implementing Actions

Relevant Scottish Government policy areas to support and feed into the skills planning work led by the Scottish Government’s Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Guidelines for developing a strengthened approach to regional skills planning – September 2024 – Complete within this reporting period.

Options identified for future skills planning models in spring 2025 and announcement of chosen option in late 2025 – Complete within this reporting period.

Implementation Plan Timescales

Cross-government work and external engagement on skills planning is well under way and will inform the design of new skills planning approaches in 2025 – Ongoing. New high-level skills planning model was agreed and shared with stakeholders in 2025. Detailed design of specific processes continues through 2026.

Progress Update

Following the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape, we committed to lead skills planning nationally while strengthening regional approaches. We agreed with Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in May 2025 a high-level model to deliver this commitment, which has been shared with key stakeholders.

The specific steps of the new skills planning model are:

The Scottish Government will identify the sectors of focus for skills planning activity and Skills Needs Assessments.

Skills Development Scotland will assess the need for professional and technical skills linked to critical occupations in the sectors identified.

The Scottish Government will then prioritise and communicate skills critical to meeting national ambitions to learners, providers and the wider system and will set expectations for meeting skills priorities.

The Scottish Funding Council will plan provision for the priority skills, ensure delivery and report on meeting priorities.

This does not replace the ability of regions to set their own skills priorities; it is about identifying the skills most critical to delivering national priorities - many of which are expected to be cross-cutting and relevant across multiple sectors.

We are further engaging stakeholders in February 2026 on the process and results of the initial sector shortlisting process. SDS is engaging stakeholders simultaneously to co-design the enhanced Skills Needs Assessment process. There are a range of interim skills actions taking place across SG portfolios and regions in the meantime.

Recommendation 9 : For the new Agriculture Scotland Bill, as part of Tiers 3 and 4, to include provisions to enable support to fund upskilling/Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for farmers and employees to support priority, quality non-legislative training towards a just transition to a green economy.

Outputs

The Agriculture and Rural Communities Act 2024 has now been brought into force and this includes provision to introduce CPD as part of an Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) by way of regulations. The Act also makes provision for support being provided for other knowledge exchange and transfer activities. The need for secondary legislation and further engagement with stakeholders is currently under consideration.

Preliminary analyses, following informal stakeholder consultation and research is now complete. The next stage is to refine and prioritise options.

We have also finalised and implemented a research fellowship from SEFARI (Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutions) that is due to report around November 2024.

Implementing Actions

Powers in Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act.

Consultation on secondary legislation for CPD regime.

CPD regime procurement and coming into operation.

Continuing to make progress with AKIS preparations following enactment of Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act, to be introduced from 2027 under Tier 4 of Agriculture Reform Programme.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act introduced in July 2024 – reported as passed by the Scottish Parliament and complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Consultation on secondary legislation for CPD 2025 – Progress has been made to deliver this recommendation but has exceeded the agreed timescale, this work is ongoing and full achievement is anticipated.

Procurement of CPD 2026 – delayed but work is ongoing. Proceeding with procurement is reliant on completion of the consultation and full achievement is anticipated.

Implementation Plan Timescales

2024 – 2027 – this work is ongoing.

Progress Update

A research fellowship from SEFARI (Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutions) reported in November 2024. It set out key options for developing Scotland’s AKIS in line with European policies. These options will be considered as the AKIS is being developed.”

There has been significant progress made towards developing the CPD regime. This has included scoping work and understanding CPD systems used in agriculture and other professions. There has been additional work to collect evidence, for example, the 2025 Scottish Agricultural Household Survey asked a series of questions on skills and participation in CPD.

There have been two Discoveries undertaken. A Discovery is a piece of collaborative work which helps to understand who the users of a project are and what the users need. They included providers of CPD systems in agriculture and potential users of the system. The first one, undertaken from January-March 2025 aimed to understand the role of CPD in Tier 4 of the Agriculture Reform Programme (“Complementary”) and how it relates to and can be used to support Tiers 1-3 (“Base”, “Enhanced” and “Elective”) and the schemes within these tiers, including whether and how it could / should be made mandatory (in part or whole). Tier 4 centres on skills development, training and advice.

The second Discovery, undertaken from April-June 2025, refined options and recommendations delivered through the first Discovery and identified options for delivering an initial CPD model as well as setting out how that model could be built on in the future.

A third Discovery will complete at the end of February 2026, it is exploring how a CPD tool could meet the identified user needs and policy goals.

The next stage is further engagement with stakeholders prior to a formal consultation.

Recommendation 10 : Strongly recommend that Scottish Government incentivise uptake of structured Education and Training programmes to support the Agricultural sector.

Whilst Scottish Government does not propose to develop and implement a structured programme for education and training for agriculture, work will be undertaken as part of the Agricultural Reform Programme to develop a Continued Professional Development system to enable farmers, crofters and land managers to record personal and professional development activities.

This initiative aligns with recommendation 9 and will form part of an Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) to be introduced from 2027.

Progress Update

See Recommendation 9 above.

Work is continuing on developing the AKIS. This has included consideration of the outcomes of the SEFARI fellowship to support the development of a Scottish AKIS and understanding the AKIS co-ordination mechanism in other EU countries. Work will continue to explore the options for co-ordinating the AKIS in Scotland.

Recommendation 11 : Amend the annual compulsory Agriculture Census to include specific Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) questions, which can be used by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and others to inform the Sector’s skills needs more accurately.

Output

Scottish Government Agriculture census will be amended to include specific LMI questions to inform the sector’s skills needs.

Implementing Actions

Once the Agriculture Census Survey is completed and results published in October, new questions can be considered for 2025.

Implementation Plan Milestones

New LMI questions considered for the Scottish Government Agriculture census – this work is in progress.

Implementation Plan Timescales

2024 – 2025 – Progress was made with the new Agricultural Household Survey 2025 but as no LMI questions were added to the 2025 Agriculture Census this has exceeded the agreed timescale, however this work is in progress with the aim to pilot these questions in a future survey.

Progress Update

In 2025, we commissioned an Agriculture Household Survey of over 4,000 farming and crofting households to improve our understanding of child poverty, equalities, and other aspects of agricultural households across Scotland and this included some questions relating to skills, with findings due to be published in early 2026. As a result LMI questions were not included in the 2025 modular part of the June Agricultural Census.

We will continue to work towards getting LMI questions added to the Agricultural Census which will be considered again from 2027, as topics have already been confirmed for the 2026 Agricultural Census.

Recommendation 11.1 : Identify opportunities to add LMI questions to other Sector surveys sent out by the Scottish Government or related agencies.

Output

The Scottish Government will seek opportunities to add LMI questions to other relevant sector surveys.

Implementing Actions

We will engage with survey managers across Scottish Government to assess where there are opportunities to add LMI questions to surveys in alignment with those added to the Agricultural Census.

Implementation Plan Milestones

New LMI questions considered for relevant sector surveys – complete within this reporting period.

Timescales

October 2024 to March 2025 – complete within this reporting period.

Progress Update

The new Agricultural Household Survey was launched last year with findings due to be published in early 2026. This will provide some additional data on skills and training for the agricultural sector. At this stage, there are no plans to run the survey again but we continue to engage with survey managers to consider other relevant surveys to help improve LMI data across all relevant sectors. This Recommendation is now complete.

Recommendation 12 : Undertake research which identifies key transferable skills required across different job roles within the Sector - reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

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 stakeholders, 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.

Implementation Plan 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 – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

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 providers - in progress.

Continued development of the Gender Strategy - in progress.

Implementation Plan Timescales

August 2024 to April 2035 - in progress.

Progress Update

In Financial Year 2025/26, the Women in Agriculture Development Programme (WiADP) committed up to an additional £600,000 to support women in agriculture. Over £140,000 in grants have already been approved for projects that directly contribute to creating a fairer society by ensuring equal opportunities for all women in Scottish agriculture helping them build stronger businesses, benefit families, and improve the economic standing of women and children.

In addition, in 2026 we are launching the £250,000 Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund to help reduce barriers by funding practical and business skills training for women and girls aged 13 and above.

Work on the gender strategy for agriculture to address inequality through the development and delivery of the wider Equality Strategy for Women and Girls is ongoing.

In 2025, we commissioned an Agriculture Household Survey of over 4,000 farming and crofting households to improve our understanding of child poverty, equalities, and other aspects of agricultural households across Scotland. The findings will be published in early 2026 and will provide evidence on how best the Rural Affairs Land Reform and Islands portfolio can contribute to equalities and human rights, meet statutory obligations on Impact Assessments, the Equality Duty, and the Fairer Scotland Budget Statement, as well as support the Agriculture Reform Programme.

Recommendation 14 : Sector ‘Industry Leadership Groups’ (or equivalent) to establish what help or interventions would enable their industries to meet fair work requirements.

Outputs

Desk-based research to establish a baseline on barriers, opportunities and current good practice on Fair Work in the Sector.

For example, data will be gathered on Fair Work practices in the Sector. Lantra Scotland will continue to work with Forestry Industry Leadership Groups to ensure progress on Fair Work First. The aim will be to identify good practice from this that can be shared with the sectors through the Industry Leadership Groups and skills groups.

Work to raise awareness with Industry Leadership Groups and skills groups to identify what help or interventions that employers in the sector require.

Implementing Actions

Recipients of Scottish Government funding must meet Fair Work First Conditionality.

Lantra will support Fair Work practices with Skills Hub training providers that may then be developed and extended to more providers and stakeholders.

Establish links with Industry Leadership Groups and skills groups for each part of the Sector e.g. aquaculture, horticulture, agriculture.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Lantra pilot research complete in December 2024 – completed in 2025.

Implementation Plan Timescales

2024/2025 – complete within this reporting period.

Progress Update

The research has been completed and two reports have been uploaded to the Lantra research pages under “Workforce Research”.

Fair Work Research Part 1 Employees

This report, commissioned by Lantra, captures the view of 79 employees working in land and aquaculture industries in Scotland, specifically to better understand practices around maternity leave and flexible working.

Fair Work Research Part 2 - Employers

This report, commissioned by Lantra, captures the view of 33 employers in land and aquaculture industries in Scotland, specifically to better understand practices around maternity leave and flexible working.

The findings led to online delivery of a series of online Fair Work workshops in 2025 and a series of short videos on the subject which will be released in early 2026. This Recommendation is now complete.

Recommendation 15 : Annually review recommendation progress, whilst sharing best practice and lessons learned.

Outputs

A meeting to review progress and share good practice involving former Commission members and stakeholders 12 months after publication of Scottish Government response.

Progress update report published.

Implementing Actions

Scottish Government policy teams will monitor actions to progress the response to the recommendations.

Scottish Government will host a meeting with former Commission members in Autumn 2024.

Implementation Plan Milestones

Implementation Plan published – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

First annual reporting on progress published Spring 2025 – reported as complete in the 17 June 2025 Progress Report.

Annual review event held spring 2025 – organised for 5 March 2026.

Implementation Plan Timescales

End 2024 – Spring 2025 – complete at 17 June 2025 report.

Progress Update

We held a meeting with former Commission members in August 2025 to discuss the progress of the Recommendations and agreed a date of Spring 2026 for the stakeholder event.

The first progress report was published on 17 June 2025, where 5 recommendations were complete.

Responses have been collected for each incomplete Recommendation to produce this second Progress Report, which we aim to publish in March 2026.

This reports a further 9 Recommendations are complete, bringing the delivery total to 14.

The annual review event is arranged online for the 5 March 2026 with selected stakeholders to discuss progress and share best practice. The Actions and Milestones for 2025 are delivered and this Recommendation is complete.