British Growers Association and Association of Labour Providers unite to tackle sector's labour challenges

The Association of Labour Providers (ALP) and the British Growers Association (BGA) have formed an alliance to improve labour supply to UK horticulture.

The new agreement will improve communication, collaboration and joint representation between the two organisations, in order to highlight the economic importance of labour provision in the fresh produce sector, promote best practice and highlight the work and career opportunities on offer.

BGA chief executive James Hallett said: "The Government’s decision to scrap the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme puts the supply of reliable and skilled workers right at the top of the industry’s agenda.

"This partnership not only represents a joint commitment to drive up standards and improve collaboration, it also strengthens our voice in pressing ministers to explain how they will work with the industry to ensure enough workers can be found to carry out essential planting and harvesting operations on UK farms."

ALP members supply the majority of seasonal workers in the UK food and agricultural sectors.

Its director David Camp descibed the new alliance as "extremely timely" and added: "It is essential that every horticultural business which relies upon seasonal workers plans now to secure their labour supply in 2014 and beyond. This may involve new ways of thinking and alternative models of supply."