One of the outputs from the RMIF's first phase of activity has been the need for specific training activities or facilities in businesses post-farmgate. An opportunity arose for Defra to support the cost of some of the delivery of the issues raised, and a post-farmgate training programme was launched in Spring 2005.

The issues were distilled down to 5 key areas. These are

1. The need to enhance the uptake of HACCP procedures in small and medium sized businesses by communicating the commercial benefits over and above the legislative requirements already in place, and then helping businesses accessing the benefits.

2. Identifying whether small and medium businesses would be better able to train their staff if on-site facilities existed in meat plants, rather than sending staff to colleges or not training them at all.

3. Setting up training programmes for livestock hauliers to particularly focus on opportunities to reduce costs and add value in that part of the chain.

4. Raise awareness of existing training facilities particularly among smaller businesses and identifying what may be missing for the industry of the future.

5. Provision of a simple introduction to red meat supply chains for new entrants to the meat industry, especially young graduates.

A programme begun in June 2005 is addressing these. A trade association steering group chaired by Alan Stevenson advised on delivery and approved the programme, and are now activity encouraging their members to take part as the programmes comes on stream. The programmes of delivery are

HACCP - The package includes a HACCP health check to establish where a company is in terms of current HACCP status. Depending on that, advisors will work with the business to identify how value can be achieved from a higher health status. Because of the impending changes to hygiene regulations, much of this work is being conducted in 2005. There is sufficient funding to run the programme among about 100 businesses.

Regional Training Centres - The package includes an initial survey of businesses on the likely interest in sending staff to regional training centres within operational meat plants. A second survey will gauge the likely interest in meat companies actually offering up their facilities as regional training centres. Assuming a reasonable level of interest, the practicalities of training centres will be looked at (in terms of health and safety, biosecurity etc). A small number of pilots will then be set up to look at then feasibility of running such a network. The initial surveys will be undertaken in the Autumn of 2005

Livestock hauliers - A training package is being developed with the Livestock Hauliers Association on ways hauliers may be able to reduce costs and add value to the chains in which they operate. This programme will run in 2006

Promoting training - This programme is running and operates through the Meat Training Council

Introduction to the meat industry - This will be a web-based document, available to all and will be promoted in association with training programmes. It will be launched at the Forums conference on 2 November 2005.