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(Source: Defra)

The South West’s agricultural workforce is 83,434 - 3.3% of the region's total working population (almost twice the national figure of 1.8%). In 1997, 13% of all business sites in the region were classified as agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing compared to the national average of 6.2%. The sector accounts for 2.1% of employees and 12.0% of self-employed in the region, compared to 1.2% and 5.7% respectively for England as a whole.

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In the South West the agricultural workforce declined by 10% between 1987 and 1997, compared with 15% for England as a whole. Alongside the decline in total agricultural workforce there has been a significant trend towards part-time work. A fall of over 10,000 full-time workers over the last 10 years contrasts with an increase of 3,000 part-time workers. The number of seasonal or casual workers has also dropped by about 1,400. As a result, the downward pressure on wages has led to reduced spending in the local rural economy.

Area Agriculture (%) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (%) Aged 16+ & Economically Active
Avon 1.11 1.15 62.53
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly 5.33 6.09 55.44
Devon 4.24 4.47 56.86
Dorset 2.54 2.78 55.98
Gloucestershire 2.75 2.92 62.14
Somerset 5.19 5.28 59.40
Wiltshire 2.97 3.09 65.39
South West 3.20 3.40 59.62
England 1.69 1.77 61.44

(Sources: Regional Trends 1998; 1997 Mid-Year Population Estimates ONS; 1991 Census of Population)

Source: Lantra. Lantra has recently undertaken a large-scale survey of learning demand

  1. 90% of businesses believed at worst their turnover would be static over the next 5 years. 65% expected some growth
  2. 27% had diversified in the past year and 40% expected to diversify in future
  3. 60% employed no staff at all and 10% only employed part-time staff
  4. 25% had a business plan but 57% had neither a business nor training plan
  5. 54% said technical skills and management training were of equal value. 40% valued technical skills higher
  6. Top influences to do training were 'improve business efficiency', 'legislation' and 'new equipment/ working practices'. Of 9 factors listed, 'diversification' = 6th, influence of larger or similar size businesses in the locality came bottom
  7. The top 4 (of 14) reasons for not training were: cost to employer, cannot take time off, cannot leave business without cover, time of day when courses run
  8. 66% of interviewees or their families had undertaken some form of training in the past 12 months
  9. 63% of businesses invest under £1,000 in training for themselves or staff (41% under £500) each year
  10. On sources for guidance on business advice, guidance and learning most land managers would ask trade associations (38%), solicitors & accountants (35%), private training providers (31%). They were unlikely to ask SBS (11%), RDA (10%), LLSC (10%) or chambers of commerce (4%)
  11. For specific training information the most quoted sources were private training providers (44%) and land- based colleges (41%). Business Link scored 26% and the LLSC 15%
  12. On learning mode, 51% had undertaken a mixed mode of learning (classroom and on the job). 74% of those who had used an e-learning provider were willing to use the same provider again with 65% willing to recommend it to others

Industry Number of businesses Number employed GDP £million
Land-based engineering 5,900 28,000 2,700
Trees and timber 6,200 38,030 4,342
Animal care 13,300 55,000 1,000
Agricultural crops 60,700 121,900 3,636
Agricultural livestock 174,800 296,200 8,483
Other related agriculture areas   88,200 1,079
Production horticulture 12,800 43,700 1,928
Garden centres 2,500 30,000 3,288
Fisheries management     500
Floristry 6,780 28,700 1,500
Equine 6,000 54,300 2,000
Equine retail     100
Fencing 15,800 47,500 3,500
Farriery 2,276 2,600 100
Veterinary nurses 2,400 7,500 1,000
Landscaping 37,800 120,000 4,500
Animal technology 285 3,400 500
Environmental conservation 4,900 56,100 7,000
Game and wildlife management 5,100 15,200 300
Aquaculture 1,150 7,200 500
Sector total 358,691 1,043,530 47,956
National figures   27,500,000 825,000
Sector Contribution   3.79% 5.81%

Note: figures in italics are estimates based on available evidence 1 ONS figures from Blue Book 2002,
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