Land based careers: agriculture, horticulture, forestry

This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into land based careers such as agriculture, forestry and horticulture.

What are land based careers?

Land based careers encompass a number of areas of work. The environmental and land-based sector can be divided into five areas for graduate employment: agriculture and science; animal-related; environmental conservation and rural management; fresh produce, nurseries and garden centres; gardens, landscape and design. Land based industries employ over 1 million people throughout the UK. An estimated 60% of businesses are sole operators and it is estimated that 94% of businesses employ less than 10 people.

The sector continues to undergo a process of radical change driven by the globalisation of production and markets, rapidly changing consumer tastes and an increasing focus on high value products. (Lantra)

The land-based sector has historically suffered from an image of poor pay and long hours and has been pushed as a non-academic route for students. Consequently, there is a lack of understanding of the sector and the career opportunities it offers. (Lantra)

Prospects

Prospects is a graduate careers website with includes profiles on jobs in the animal and plant resources sector.
Animal and Plant Resources

In addition Prospects produce sector guides which detail the main jobs in the sector. The ‘Environment, food chain and rural’ sector guide covers land based careers and is available to download or in hard copy from the careers centre.
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/EnvironmentSB

Targetjobs

Targetjobs is a graduate careers website with the following job sector information.
Environment

How do I get into it?

A degree or equivalent qualification is required for some jobs in this sector. With the growth of foundation degrees new entry routes and routes to professional development for new and mature entrants and existing employees have been created within the sector.

Work experience within a related field adds value to an application.

The sector relies heavily on volunteers and unpaid workers in addition to casual workers. It is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 voluntary workers in this sector nationwide. Volunteering is often used as an important route to paid employment. Active student may be able to offer you some guidance with this.

LANTRA

This website provides a wealth of information relating to careers in land based industries. If you want more information about the industry in the south east contact Employer Engagement Manager 01233 610438.
www.lantra.co.uk

Further information on the University of Brighton accredited courses and careers in Land Based industries can be found at: www.plumpton.ac.uk

Industries forecast to demonstrate growth in the South East region are production horticulture, landscape, environmental conservation, animal care, trees and timber, fencing and equine (Lantra).

Finding a job or employer in this sector

Land based industries employ over 1 million people throughout the UK. Within the South East, estimates give a total of around 15,171 businesses or organisations that operate wholly or principally in the land-based sector.

The total land-based workforce within the region is currently estimated at 105,610. This figure is a conservative estimate and may not reflect the large numbers of temporary, casual and migrant workers known to work in areas such as production horticulture.

TheSouth East has the highest number of sector businesses of all of the nine Regional Development Agency (RDA) areas. Employment is concentrated in agriculture and horticulture (production and amenity), landscape, fencing (it is estimated that 25% of all fencing businesses are in the region), trees and timber, equine and animal care. (Lantra Sector Skills Agreement South East Report 2007)

Within England as a whole, micro-businesses predominate across the sector, as over 90% of the businesses surveyed within the sector employ less than ten or no staff. Approximately 50% of businesses employ one to nine, whilst 40% employ no staff at all. Of the total workforce, over 58% are proprietors of businesses, whilst 42% are
employed staff.

You can visit the self-employment pages for more information about setting up your own business. Vacancies are advertised so keep up to date with the local press and other potential employers such as local councils. Be aware that vacancies in this sector are not common and they attract strong competition.

Undertaking work experience, while not guaranteeing a paid position at the end of it, does however develop your contacts which will encourage you to network and make speculative applications or think about where there are gaps in the industry and how you could fill them with your own business. All of which are possible career routes.

While there are no specific land based recruitment agencies in the local area, the following sites should give you an idea of where to look for vacancies.

Growing-careers.com

Vacancies, information and advice for those seeking work in the environment & conservation, garden & landscape design, agriculture and horticulture.

www.growing-careers.com

Countryside Jobs Service
Vacancies are updated daily and a selection can be viewed online.
www.countryside-jobs.com

The National Trust
Vacancies can be viewed online, you can register to receive email alerts.
www.ntjobs.org.uk

Farmers Weekly
As well as news about the sector there is a section for jobs and forums for discussion points.
www.fwi.co.uk

Further Information and useful links

At the careers information centre at Moulsecoomb you will find:

You may also find the following publications which we have at the Careers Centre, Moulsecoomb useful:

• Working with the Environment (2004)
• The Green Directory (2007/2008)
• Green Volunteers - the world guide to Voluntary Work in Nature Conservation (2003)

Another good source of careers and industry information is the professional bodies websites of the areas within the sector. The selection below has good careers information and/or vacancy sections.

Agrifor

The UK’s gateway to high quality internet resources in agriculture, food and forestry.
www.agrifor.ac.uk

Confor

The Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) is the voice of the UK's forest industries.
www.confor.org.uk

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

In addition to information about food, air, land, water, people, animals and plants you will find a vacancies section.
www.defra.gov.uk

Horticulture Week

News and jobs for the horticulture sector.
www.hortweek.com

Institution of Agricultural Engineers

This is the professional body for engineers, scientists, technologists and managers in agricultural and allied landbased industries, including forestry, food engineering and technology, amenity, renewable energy, horticulture and the environment.
www.iagre.org

The Forestry Commission

The government department responsible for the protection and expansion of Britain’s forests and woodlands. As well as vacancies you will find job profiles and contacts for the human resources department.
www.forestry.gov.uk

The Institute of Chartered Foresters

All aspects of tree management, including forest and woodland management, arboriculture, urban forestry and environmental forestry and research, education and training.
www.charteredforesters.org

The Royal Forestry Society

Caters for all those who care about forestry, forests, woodlands and trees, their husbandry and their future
www.rfs.org.uk

Environmental Careers

This includes a searchable international jobs-market, an extensive range of sector summaries and job profiles, real life case studies, university information, undergraduate and postgraduate course listings, and links to overseas conservation organisations and potential employers.
www.environmentalcareers.org.uk

Society of Garden Designers

Details of registered garden designers, information about the professional publication, The Garden Design Journal and a good links section to other related professional bodies and more.
www.sgd.org.uk

British Association of Landscape Industries

Serving the interior and exterior landscape sector.
www.bali.co.uk