A collaborative initiative is underway to ensure that the unique skills of Crofters are formally recognised.  For the first time ever, the skills and competencies of Crofters will be mapped in an exercise which aims to help preserve their traditional skills and way of life.

At present there are no National Occupational Standards for Crofters.  Lack of formal standards can create barriers to new entrants wishing to enter into Crofting.  Similarly, the development of existing crofters can be hampered by lack of appropriately tailored training courses.

John Bannister, the Scottish Crofting Foundation’s Training Manager explained, “If training is to attract crofters, as I hope it will, it must be Affordable, Available and Appropriate to the particular needs of crofters and small holders. The former Crofters Union, now the Crofting Foundation, has been pressing for a special scheme of training for all levels of crofters, whether experienced or relatively new, for a number of years now.” 

 “The SCF’s very popular Crofting Induction Course has been running since 1998 and we see it as an utterly reliable indicator of the current widespread interest in crofting and related training. This present exercise is yet a further, very welcome step, toward attaining a special training scheme for Crofters and Small Holders in Scotland.”  

 A number of organisations are supporting the mapping exercise, this includes: Lantra, Scottish National Heritage, Crofters Commission, Scottish Crofting Foundation, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and the Forestry Commission for Scotland.

 Liz Paul Highlands and Islands Regional Development Manager for Lantra, said:

 “The crofting model in the Highlands is often hailed as best practice by other countries.  What we want to do is ensure these skills can be continued in future generations.  The aim is to identify the actual skills required for Crofters, recognising both traditional skills and taking into account change factors such as new technology, new legislation and market forces.  This information can then be used to form a Competence Framework which helps to certify non-accredited learning, which often goes unrecognised.”   

 Using this Framework, individual Crofters could then measure their existing skills, identify any skills gaps or training needs and produce their own Skills Passport to recognise and certify their new and existing skills.

 Crofter Calina MacDonald from Skye will be carrying out this mapping exercise Calina said:

 “Crofting skills have traditionally been handed down through the generations, but in recent decades this has not necessarily been the case.   As in other sectors of the agriculture industry, there has been a lack of interest and involvement by young, and not so young, people in rural, land-based industries. However, within the Highlands and Islands, and especially within the crofting areas, we are beginning to see a reversal of this trend.”

 Calina continued: “These  are not just people moving in to the area for ‘lifestyle change’ reasons  but also local young people wishing to remain within their own communities and who see crofting and the acquisition of a croft, as an opportunity for the development of a sustainable small business.   Changing in legislation, technical, welfare and transport issues and market forces, mean a great deal more paperwork and, with mistakes costing money, it makes economic sense to ‘educate’ oneself to meet all these new challenges.    The mapping of the competencies ensures that all aspects of the traditional crofting lifestyle, together with opportunities for developing new skills and businesses, will be readily available to everyone interested in this important aspect of Highland rural life. ”

 Lantra are also developing Competence Frameworks for the pig and dairy sectors in Scotland.