HOPS Labour Solutions Limited (HOPS) is one of the largest providers of temporary labour to the Horticulture and Agriculture Industries in the UK. HOPS is wholly owned by the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and was established in 1989.Throughout the year HOPS recruits up to 11,000 people for the sector and at the height of the season as many as 7,500 people are employed through the company in the soft and top fruit sectors on 200 holdings in the UK, the company has also supplied workers to Spain and Portugal.
James Davies, Executive Director explains, "Most of the labour supplied comes from Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. HOPS recruits workers who are then employed directly by the farms, our role is to make sure the workers are suitable, have the correct documentation and insurance and also make sure that conditions on the farms are adequate and that people are treated fairly. HOPS will step in to help resolve any issues which may occur between employee and employer."
HOPS recently started a project to try and encourage British people into the agricultural sector, it consists of a three week training period followed by a placement on a farm picking fruit, these placements often lead to a promotion and permanent jobs. Davies said that although this project has been encouraging, it cannot be considered a credible alternative to sourcing seasonal workers from other countries however can be seen as a valuable gateway for local residents to gain skills, experience and permanent employment in the sector. HOPS are on line to hit their target to fill 200 jobs in 2013 with British recruits however this remains a very small proportion of the overall seasonal labour force requirement.
This year the delayed start of the soft fruit season has caused a few headaches, HOPS have worked closely with their client farms to co-ordinate the arrival of workers at the correct time for when crops are ready, "We have been able to move people around to areas where there is work, or change travel plans, the vegetable season was also delayed so farms need people to harvest vegetables and salad crops as well, so it worked out OK," explained Davies.
At the end of 2013 Romanians and Bulgarians will no longer be subject to work conditions which means they must get a work permit via the SAWS, (Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme), which allows farmers and growers in the UK to recruit low-skilled overseas workers to do short-term agricultural work and will be able to live and work permanently in the EU.
Davies expects a shortage of agricultural workers to develop by the end of the 2014 season as these workers integrate into more permanent jobs just as the Polish workers did a few years ago. The UK government and companies such as HOPS are looking at alternatives to SAWS, but at the moment a shortage of labour is looking very likely.
For more information:
James Davies
HOPS Labour Solutions
Tel: +44 (0)2476 698 000
Email: [email protected]
www.hopslaboursolutions.com
