TIAH group membership aims to address skills and labour shortages

Developed in response to industry feedback, TIAH says group membership is designed to help farm businesses recruit, retain and develop staff, while easing their administrative load.

 TIAH Chief Executive, Stephen Jacob, says skills and labour shortages are placing significant pressure on farm businesses.

 “TIAH’s 2022 report found 63% of UK farm businesses reported difficulties in filling certain roles, with 39 per cent of these roles sitting empty for over a month,” he said. 

 “To support long-term resilience and sustainability in agriculture and horticulture, we have to address these labour and skills gaps.”

 He says that replacing a member of staff can cost the equivalent of more than a year’s salary.

 This is based on various factors including loss of productivity and skills, and time spent recruiting and training the new member of staff.

 Encouraging farm businesses to use group membership, Mr Jacob adds: “By making use of the online service to actively support and recognise lifelong learning, farm businesses will build a reputation for professionalism and innovation, making them more attractive as employers.”

 Linda Christoffersson, TIAH’s Head of Membership, says group membership will help farm businesses stand out as employers of choice while saving time and money.

 Ms Christoffersson added: “Our new offering helps farm businesses streamline team training with a manager's view of online learning activity, allowing instant oversight of course completions and training needs.”

 The online service includes a document management feature, allowing farm businesses to upload and securely store critical documents – such as nutrient management plans, insurance policies, and training certificates – and set expiry reminders to alert when renewals are due.

 Ms Christoffersson explained: “This feature streamlines administrative tasks and supports compliance, saving farmers and growers valuable time and money which allows them to focus on the business.”

 She said TIAH’s group membership also provides digital tools and resources tailored to the unique needs of farm businesses, regardless of size. Each team member is given a tailored learning journey that aligns with their role and development goals.

According to Ms Christoffersson, TIAH membership is already resonating with the next generation of talent, who increasingly value professional development.

 She added: “Strong uptake of our student membership has shown that the next generation put a strong emphasis on structured learning and expect learning opportunities from their employers.

 “Group membership enables farm businesses to meet these expectations, positioning them as preferred employers in a competitive market, helping them to retain staff and contributing to better overall farm performance in the long-term.”

 For more information on TIAH’s group membership offer, visit https://tiah.org/en/group-membership.