The Department of Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs has set up a digital hub to support the recruitment of crop pickers on British farms.
It has launched the Pick for Britain service in partnership with industry bodies in response to worries that there will be a severe shortage of seasonal workers due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Defra junior minister Victoria Prentis MP told Parliament that the hub will provide information on seasonal work and job opportunities along with links to available jobs and recruiters. There are plans to update it regularly over coming weeks to help match jobs to workers as demand grows.
She said the move has been as part of a recruitment drive in the sector, aimed largely at encouraging British workers furloughed from their jobs and students to take up agricultural work in the coming season.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and we will shortly be launching a public facing campaign to highlight the roles available from late May onwards and to encourage people to apply,” she said.
The other partners in the initiative are the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, the National Farmers Union, the Association of Labour Providers and British Growers.
