OFC Inspire: Dan Stamper

As one of the Inspire delegates at 2022's Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), Daniel gives us his view on why apprenticeships are vital to keep the next generation of farmers coming through the industry.

I was born and raised on a mixed farm in Cumbria but moved away to pursue my teaching career. Ten years later, I moved back to Cumbria, where I initially taught at Newton Rigg.

The college's closure in 2021 was a big blow for Cumbria and the north of England. At the time, my colleagues and I felt it was vital that there was still access to agricultural training in the county, hence the reason for accepting a post at Kendal College.

More recently, I was fortunate enough to attend the OFC as an Inspire delegate, and one of the things that really hit me was how different the model of farming is the further south you go.

In Cumbria, you typically have small, upland family farms, as opposed to the big farming estates, which are not always the easiest to make a living from.

It’s because of this legacy that young people are integral to farming businesses in the north, and apprenticeships are a really good way for these individuals to get an education alongside being able to work at home or within nearby businesses.

It’s so important that everyone has access to an outstanding education, and further education is so good at doing this. It often gives those who weren’t that interested in school the skills they need to become lifelong learners and flourish in future roles.

When I used to come and visit family in Cumbria before relocating, it was very apparent how far the county was falling behind economically. Agriculture is so important to the economy in the north I feel it’s essential that apprenticeships are available to those who want to access them.

Skills helping people drive business forward

I’ve seen first-hand how these courses can provide people with the skills they need to drive their businesses forward, which will help drive our county forward. As we move towards 2027, when the basic payment scheme will be phased out, these individuals will have the skills to prosper and bring much needed energy to the county and the sector.

Being a lecturer of agricultural apprentices is my way to give back and help ‘set up’ young people so they are as ‘business ready’ as they can be for the future. I've only been in my current role for a year, but seeing my students do what they love to the best of their ability makes it all worthwhile.
However, I do feel as an industry, we have to do more to not only attract new entrants but also to retain people in the industry. Looking back at past students and seeing how many people have stayed in the industry, I think it would make for difficult viewing.

Many farm businesses around here are not set up to support career progression or don’t have the HR capabilities within the business. This has meant we have seen several people bouncing out of the industry. I know this is something TIAH is looking to support with the development of their new platform, which I know will have multiple beneficial uses for different audiences.

Tackling the recruitment and retention challenges in our industry is no mean feat; therefore, in partnership with TIAH, we all need to play our part.