Tuesday, 01 September 2026 06:00 AM
Environmental, Social and Governance
Four in ten regional skills plans make little or no reference to land-based and environmental skills, according to new analysis, raising concerns that the workforce needed for food production, nature recovery and climate resilience is being overlooked. Lantra warns these sectors need a stronger voice in regional skills planning and investment decisions
WARWICK, GB / ACCESS Newswire / September 1, 2026 / Lantra, working with Rooted in Place, has undertaken the first UK-wide analysis of its kind, bringing together all published Local Skills Improvement Plans in England and equivalent skills strategies in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Assessed through a land-based and environmental skills lens, the analysis provides the clearest picture yet of how these sectors are recognised within skills planning and where gaps remain.
The findings come as the Government's devolution agenda gives mayors and strategic authorities increasing influence over skills, employment and economic development. As more decisions are made at a regional level, understanding the workforce and skills needed to support food production, environmental management and climate resilience will become even more important.
Lantra's analysis suggests that land-based and environmental skills risk falling through the gaps of both national and regional skills planning. At a time when Government is setting ambitious targets for agriculture and food production, nature recovery, climate adaptation, green infrastructure, and more resilient rural economies, the sectors require a clear and coordinated skills strategy. The findings in this analysis further strengthen Lantra's recommendation for a national skills taskforce that can bring together industry, education, and government to ensure skills and workforce development keeps pace with the priorities that have been set out.
Lantra is warning that regions could miss key opportunities to build, and develop, the workforce needed to support food production, nature recovery, climate adaptation, green infrastructure, and more resilient rural economies.
While some regions clearly recognise the importance of land-based and environmental industries to economic growth, rural prosperity and environmental outcomes, the analysis shows these sectors remain less visible in almost half of Local Skills Improvement Plans. This includes areas such as West Yorkshire, Somerset, and the Thames Valley.
Where land-based and environmental skills do appear, they are increasingly framed through broader priorities such as green jobs, natural capital, biodiversity, food systems, climate adaption, and place-based economic development. While this can create new opportunities, it may also make the sector's specific workforce and training requirements harder to identify and address.
The strongest recognition of land-based and environmental skills was found in Kent and Medway, York and North Yorkshire, Buckinghamshire; Cumbria, Dorset, Greater Devon, Sussex and Brighton, Swindon and Wiltshire, South Yorkshire, and the Tees Valley.
Across the plans reviewed, many regions found the same recurring challenges. Some of which include:
changing technical, digital and environmental skill requirements;
limited rural transport and access to training;
gaps in careers information and awareness;
the accessibility and viability of specialist provision; and
the need for stronger links between employers, providers and regional decision-makers
Nick Juba, CEO at Lantra said: "As powers and funding move closer to local areas, it is essential that land-based and environmental skills are part of the conversation. The workforce needed to grow food, manage land, restore nature and build climate resilience doesn't sit outside local growth plans, it underpins them.
"Our analysis shows that some regions are already making those connections. Others have an opportunity to go further in recognising the role these sectors play in delivering economic, environmental and community outcomes."
The matrix has been published as a practical resource for employers, providers and decision-makers to inform future skills planning. Lantra is therefore inviting stakeholders to:
Consider how land-based and environmental skills are reflected within local and regional priorities
Share examples of good practice and approaches that are working well
Contribute to discussions about how the visibility of these industries can be strengthened within regional skills planning
Lantra's regional research programme will now move into its next stage, bringing together employers, training providers and regional decision-makers to explore how careers pathways, training provision, and collaboration can be strengthened. The initial focus will be York and North Yorkshire; Greater Devon; and Sussex and Brighton, with Powys, in mid-Wales, providing a perspective from the Welsh skills system.
You can view the LSIP Analysis Matrix, and more about the regional research programme by visiting Lantra's website: https://lantra.co.uk/regional-skills-research
To share evidence, or get involved in the project, please contact Lantra directly via [email protected]
SOURCE: Lantra