Leap Forward For Demand-Led Training

UK - Health, cost, competitiveness and value are the priorities for a profitable and sustainable pig industry in England and Wales according to the new strategy just published by the British Pig Executive (BPEX).
calendar icon 25 January 2006
clock icon 4 minute read
British Pig Executive

Leap Forward For Demand-Led Training

The contract for supplying the documentation to support both trainees and trainers working towards the new pig industry qualifications has been awarded to ELITE Consortium, a company representing five of the UK's leading land-based colleges. The production team, which includes several pig industry consultants, will be headed up by well known industry consultant and geneticist, Dr Sam Hoste.

BPEX, who have formally underwritten the cost of producing the material will be managing the administration of the delivery of the bid but the Pig Industry Implementation Group will be responsible for ensuring that the quality and timing of delivery of the material is as agreed.

Andrew Knowles, BPEX Strategy Coordinator, said: "The panel who had the difficult task of assessing the various proposals, which went out to tender in December 2005, were particularly impressed by 2 of the bids but were finally swayed towards ELITE because of their access to and planned use of state of the art delivery methods and materials."

The panel is also delighted to announce that Gerry Brent has agreed to act in a liaison role between ELITE and the Implementation Group.

Implementation Group Chairman, Richard Longthorp, said: "Gerry has not only been involved with the development of the Strategy from the outset, but can legitimately claim, though undoubtedly his natural modesty would prevent him so doing, to have been the "father" of the strategy.

Gerry used his acceptance speech at the David Black Award of 2004, to effectively get the ear of the then Minister and Permanent Secretary to kick start a concept that had been and continues to be close to his heart for many years. He has a far more comprehensive understanding of not only the technical aspects of what the Strategy is aiming to deliver but also the conceptual parts of the Strategy, some of which are yet to be developed. I am personally very relieved that I can entrust the liaison of this part of the Strategy to Gerry. Nobody is better equipped.

The Industry Group has already written a new suite of qualifications aimed at being both relevant and flexible and this suite of qualifications has been given the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority stamp of approval which in turn means that people working towards them will be eligible for funding via the Learning and Skills Council. Groups have also been set up in several regions to pilot much of the activity planned for a national rollout later this year. The production of this material will support those seeking to attain those qualifications.

The Strategy, seen by many as being a possible model for other sectors in that it is genuinely demand driven and is being developed by the industry, has already received wide acceptance and support from industry and the likes of Lord Bach, DEFRA, Sir Don Curry, LANTRA, NPTC and agricultural colleges.

Contacts: Sam Hoste 01653 690354 - [email protected]
Bill Meredith 01964 553000 - [email protected]
Richard Longthorp 01430 433030 - [email protected]
Andrew Knowles 01908 844368 - [email protected]


Source: BPEX - 24th January 2006

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.