How to use the Skills for Agriculture framework

Structure

The skills are placed into categories, such as Crops or Behaviours. As more skills are added, the list of categories will grow.

Each skill contains:

• A general description
• Guidance notes
• Level descriptors

The levels

Each level is described by the following characteristics:

• Autonomy
• Influence
• Complexity
• Knowledge

As you go from level 1 to 7, the amount of autonomy increases. Level 1 typically describes someone who is just starting out with a particular skill. Level 7 describes someone who is setting policy and taking an overall lead in that area.

More information on the levels

Applications

The skills framework can be used to:

• Develop job descriptions
• Support personal career planning
• Support training needs analysis
• Identify gaps in educational provision

Job descriptions

Using the skills framework will help to embed a common language about roles and responsibilities across organisations.

To create a new job description:

1. Select the skills required
2. Choose the appropriate levels
3. Use the level descriptors within the job description

Career planning

Individuals can identify where they sit on the skills framework, probably working with an advisor. Then they can identify additional skills to develop, or levels to aim for.

Training needs analysis

Managers can use the skills framework to assess where their team’s skill levels are, and then identify which skills could be developed.

Education provision

Training and education providers can use the framework to identify where there are gaps in their training and education provision.