Brexit Britain snub: Joe Biden IGNORES Boris Johnson in Munich speech and talks up EU ties
Joe Biden issued a triumphant rallying call during the Munich Security Conference but failed to mention the UK. The US President hailed the partnership between the United States and Europe as the "cornerstone" of his plans.
Brexit: Police 'helping Kent with public order issues'
David Pittam
BBC News Online
Derbyshire Police officers are helping colleagues in Kent deal with Brexit issues, an MP has said.
Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield, said they have been there in recent weeks to help with "public order issues in regard to Brexit lorry shipments".
He added he had been assured they are being paid in overtime so it is not affecting numbers on the street.
A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police said: "This is part of an ongoing, national, mutual aid agreement between police forces."
She added they could not say how many officers were involved "for security reasons".
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
The Bigger picture.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, is the largest daffodil grower in the world They produces 500 million stems a year and need 700 workers to pick them But they are heavily reliant on migrant worker and Brexit ended free movement Fields of flowers are being left to rot as there are not enough pickers for harvest
Fields of flowers are being left to rot in Cornwall because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following Brexit.
The world's largest daffodil grower, Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, produces 500 million stems a year and needs 700 workers to pick them.
The crops are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and the daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU to help their annual harvest.
But since Covid and the end of free movement following Brexit, the business only has around 400 flower pickers.
The business' owner Alex Newey said that it has to let daffodils rot in the fields as a result.
The world's largest daffodil grower, Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, has been forced to leave fields of flowers rotting because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following Brexit
The Cornish business produces 500 million stems a year and needs 700 workers to pick them but only have 400 since the new free movement rules came into effect post-Brexit
'We can't harvest them, we don't have enough pickers to pick them,' he said.
'We're losing hundreds of thousands of pounds.'
The UK Government's post-Brexit immigration plans moved the UK away from offering visas to low-skilled migrant workers from Europe, drastically reducing the number of workers coming to the UK.
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed.
The crops are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and the daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU to help their annual harvest
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed
'We have significant recruitment drives for local workers to come and harvest crops,' added Mr Newey.
'It's idealistic to think that because of Covid and the higher than usual unemployment rates that those people would come in and do that work.
'I would say that a daffodil harvester is to be highly respected because the work is very hard.
'You're out in the cold weather, it's in Cornwall, it blows pretty hard down there.
'It's wet and you're bending over picking daffodils for three months.
'Frankly, the people that we've had to come and do this work, the locals, may last a day or two days, but they certainly don't last two or three months.'
A scheme to attract seasonal workers from other parts of the world does not currently include flower picking as part of its remit.
The daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU sparking fears it could be brought to its knees by Brexit.
Mr Newey said: 'The seasonal worker pilot scheme will allow workers from outside of the EU - that's the important bit, outside the EU - under a visa scheme to come in and harvest food crops.
'There is significant pools of available workers from places such as the Ukraine, Moldova and further afield in South America.
'But for the time being that's only for edible crops. It does not include ornamental crops. By definition, flowers are excluded from that.'
Mr Newey has raised his concerns with the government.
'I have to say the responses are positive and we are hopeful that the ornamentals sector will be included in the scheme, but as yet it hasn't happened. In any event, we're too late for this flower season.'
Earlier this month Varfell Farms was given permission by Cornwall Council to install 49 caravans for workers on the site.
Matt Jarrett, from the company, told a planning meeting that the industry annually contributes £150 million to the UK economy.
He explained that the business was now farming 2,881 acres and had 52 full-time staff as well as 600 seasonal staff.
He added that his operation supplied daffodils to all UK supermarkets as well as exporting them to Europe, the USA and Dubai.
Earlier this month Varfell Farms was given permission by Cornwall Council to install 49 caravans for workers on the site
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
The Bigger picture.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, is the largest daffodil grower in the world They produces 500 million stems a year and need 700 workers to pick them But they are heavily reliant on migrant worker and Brexit ended free movement Fields of flowers are being left to rot as there are not enough pickers for harvest
Fields of flowers are being left to rot in Cornwall because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following Brexit.
The world's largest daffodil grower, Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, produces 500 million stems a year and needs 700 workers to pick them.
The crops are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and the daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU to help their annual harvest.
But since Covid and the end of free movement following Brexit, the business only has around 400 flower pickers.
The business' owner Alex Newey said that it has to let daffodils rot in the fields as a result.
The world's largest daffodil grower, Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, has been forced to leave fields of flowers rotting because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following Brexit
The Cornish business produces 500 million stems a year and needs 700 workers to pick them but only have 400 since the new free movement rules came into effect post-Brexit
'We can't harvest them, we don't have enough pickers to pick them,' he said.
'We're losing hundreds of thousands of pounds.'
The UK Government's post-Brexit immigration plans moved the UK away from offering visas to low-skilled migrant workers from Europe, drastically reducing the number of workers coming to the UK.
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed.
The crops are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and the daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU to help their annual harvest
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed
'We have significant recruitment drives for local workers to come and harvest crops,' added Mr Newey.
'It's idealistic to think that because of Covid and the higher than usual unemployment rates that those people would come in and do that work.
'I would say that a daffodil harvester is to be highly respected because the work is very hard.
'You're out in the cold weather, it's in Cornwall, it blows pretty hard down there.
'It's wet and you're bending over picking daffodils for three months.
'Frankly, the people that we've had to come and do this work, the locals, may last a day or two days, but they certainly don't last two or three months.'
A scheme to attract seasonal workers from other parts of the world does not currently include flower picking as part of its remit.
The daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU sparking fears it could be brought to its knees by Brexit.
Mr Newey said: 'The seasonal worker pilot scheme will allow workers from outside of the EU - that's the important bit, outside the EU - under a visa scheme to come in and harvest food crops.
'There is significant pools of available workers from places such as the Ukraine, Moldova and further afield in South America.
'But for the time being that's only for edible crops. It does not include ornamental crops. By definition, flowers are excluded from that.'
Mr Newey has raised his concerns with the government.
'I have to say the responses are positive and we are hopeful that the ornamentals sector will be included in the scheme, but as yet it hasn't happened. In any event, we're too late for this flower season.'
Earlier this month Varfell Farms was given permission by Cornwall Council to install 49 caravans for workers on the site.
Matt Jarrett, from the company, told a planning meeting that the industry annually contributes £150 million to the UK economy.
He explained that the business was now farming 2,881 acres and had 52 full-time staff as well as 600 seasonal staff.
He added that his operation supplied daffodils to all UK supermarkets as well as exporting them to Europe, the USA and Dubai.
Earlier this month Varfell Farms was given permission by Cornwall Council to install 49 caravans for workers on the site
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
The article below refers to a similar situation in Jersey, but on a smaller scale as it concerns only 50 workers. Although this is covered under the scheme referred to above.
Jersey potato farmers fly in workers from the Philippines to stop crops rotting in the fields and plug gap left by Romanian and Polish migrants after Brexit Crops have gone to waste this year due to a shortfall in seasonal farm pickers Usually around 98 per cent of seasonal pickers in the UK come from abroad Jersey farmers say void has finally been filled by workers from the Philippines
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
I think there has long been a feeling that many Brits would prefer drawing benefits to doing menial low paid jobs.
I suppose the fact that 98% of seasonal pickers have come from abroad reinforces that.
It is undoubtedly a very tough job.
Many people from the EU have filled the vacancies in the lower end of the jobs market, not only in this area, but in hospitality, the care sector etc.
Those that are probably from the poorer countries seem to value even the least well paid jobs, and probably work out better than a local, press ganged employee that doesnt really want to be there.
I think it unlikely that a company that seems to be a genuine world leader, rather than one described by Boris as such, would have reached this status without a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
I think there has long been a feeling that many Brits would prefer drawing benefits to doing menial low paid jobs.
I suppose the fact that 98% of seasonal pickers have come from abroad reinforces that.
It is undoubtedly a very tough job.
Many people from the EU have filled the vacancies in the lower end of the jobs market, not only in this area, but in hospitality, the care sector etc.
Those that are probably from the poorer countries seem to value even the least well paid jobs, and probably work out better than a local, press ganged employee that doesnt really want to be there.
I think it unlikely that a company that seems to be a genuine world leader, rather than one described by Boris as such, would have reached this status without a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business.
I appreciate that you always want to blame Brexit wherever you can.
In 2016, after the vote to Leave, businesses that rely on migrant workers have had some 4.5 years to realign their businesses.
You would hope that someone with "a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business" would be able to recognise this. Any other business, in the intervening 1600-plus days might have done something. I'm no expert, but I think I would notice if I was 300 workers light.
Something radical like, er, increasing wages so that vacancies get filled. Or providing accommodation without charging extortionate amounts for rooms/caravans. Not saying this Company does, but many do. Other Companies have managed to get sufficient staff. It comes at a cost. But trading conditions are ever-changing. This Company has made a commercial decision that it is cheaper to sacrifice some of their flowers, rather than pay workers more. And are pretending otherwise.
And "world leaders" adapt swiftly to change. Or they cease being world leaders.
PS-funny how these "migrant workers" never come from a country that has a Minimum Wage.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
I think there has long been a feeling that many Brits would prefer drawing benefits to doing menial low paid jobs.
I suppose the fact that 98% of seasonal pickers have come from abroad reinforces that.
It is undoubtedly a very tough job.
Many people from the EU have filled the vacancies in the lower end of the jobs market, not only in this area, but in hospitality, the care sector etc.
Those that are probably from the poorer countries seem to value even the least well paid jobs, and probably work out better than a local, press ganged employee that doesnt really want to be there.
I think it unlikely that a company that seems to be a genuine world leader, rather than one described by Boris as such, would have reached this status without a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business.
I appreciate that you always want to blame Brexit wherever you can.
If I came across any positive effects of Brexit I would post them. The ending of Freedom of Movement is clearly the result of Brexit.
In 2016, after the vote to Leave, businesses that rely on migrant workers have had some 4.5 years to realign their businesses.
You say that as though there was a clear plan in respect of our future relationship with the EU. Forgetting the fact that David Davis the then Brexit Secretary was assuring the public that we would retain the same benefits. Businesses had a matter of a couple of days notice prior to leaving, and a 1256 page deal to read, in order to find out where they stood.
You would hope that someone with "a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business" would be able to recognise this. Any other business, in the intervening 1600-plus days might have done something. I'm no expert, but I think I would notice if I was 300 workers light.
Just like the NHS arent looking for 100,000 nurses. Another 100,00 for social care. 20,000 coppers. Etc, Etc.
Something radical like, er, increasing wages so that vacancies get filled. Or providing accommodation without charging extortionate amounts for rooms/caravans. Not saying this Company does, but many do. Other Companies have managed to get sufficient staff. It comes at a cost. But trading conditions are ever-changing. This Company has made a commercial decision that it is cheaper to sacrifice some of their flowers, rather than pay workers more. And are pretending otherwise.
Or just including their sector in the Government scheme to import workers from elsewhere
And "world leaders" adapt swiftly to change. Or they cease being world leaders.
Our Government do not seem to have adapted well.
PS-funny how these "migrant workers" never come from a country that has a Minimum Wage.
Isnt that the point rather than being funny. We have plenty that dont want the jobs at any price, and they value them.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
I think there has long been a feeling that many Brits would prefer drawing benefits to doing menial low paid jobs.
I suppose the fact that 98% of seasonal pickers have come from abroad reinforces that.
It is undoubtedly a very tough job.
Many people from the EU have filled the vacancies in the lower end of the jobs market, not only in this area, but in hospitality, the care sector etc.
Those that are probably from the poorer countries seem to value even the least well paid jobs, and probably work out better than a local, press ganged employee that doesnt really want to be there.
I think it unlikely that a company that seems to be a genuine world leader, rather than one described by Boris as such, would have reached this status without a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business.
I appreciate that you always want to blame Brexit wherever you can.
If I came across any positive effects of Brexit I would post them. The ending of Freedom of Movement is clearly the result of Brexit.
In 2016, after the vote to Leave, businesses that rely on migrant workers have had some 4.5 years to realign their businesses.
You say that as though there was a clear plan in respect of our future relationship with the EU. Forgetting the fact that David Davis the then Brexit Secretary was assuring the public that we would retain the same benefits. Businesses had a matter of a couple of days notice prior to leaving, and a 1256 page deal to read, in order to find out where they stood.
You would hope that someone with "a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business" would be able to recognise this. Any other business, in the intervening 1600-plus days might have done something. I'm no expert, but I think I would notice if I was 300 workers light.
Just like the NHS arent looking for 100,000 nurses. Another 100,00 for social care. 20,000 coppers. Etc, Etc.
Something radical like, er, increasing wages so that vacancies get filled. Or providing accommodation without charging extortionate amounts for rooms/caravans. Not saying this Company does, but many do. Other Companies have managed to get sufficient staff. It comes at a cost. But trading conditions are ever-changing. This Company has made a commercial decision that it is cheaper to sacrifice some of their flowers, rather than pay workers more. And are pretending otherwise.
Or just including their sector in the Government scheme to import workers from elsewhere
And "world leaders" adapt swiftly to change. Or they cease being world leaders.
Our Government do not seem to have adapted well.
PS-funny how these "migrant workers" never come from a country that has a Minimum Wage.
Isnt that the point rather than being funny. We have plenty that dont want the jobs at any price, and they value them.
Good news is no news. Look at any newspaper. There is little or no good news. Always been like that. People blame the papers. But it is what people pay to read.
It's trite to blame everything on the Government. Was every single detail left to the last minute? No. Some things were last minute, true. But it was always the case that migrant workers were going to be restricted. And lots of businesses have failed to plan sufficiently, despite years of notice.
Lots of UK businesses blaming Brexit for their own failings. I don't see Importers to the UK complaining. They get on and deal with it.
The NHS are making massive efforts to solve their staffing crisis, including support for training and increased status/wages. Wish I could say the same for Social Care. Police numbers have been totally mismanaged-massive cuts followed by moaning there aren't enough.
We can continue trying to rely on 3rd World countries to provide labour in non-essential industries. Or concentrate on real employment for real wages.
I'm sure we'll live if we have to import daffodils.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
"Not enough pickers are available"? Really? This has absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. In reality, it is 1 of 2 things:-
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or 2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
I think there has long been a feeling that many Brits would prefer drawing benefits to doing menial low paid jobs.
I suppose the fact that 98% of seasonal pickers have come from abroad reinforces that.
It is undoubtedly a very tough job.
Many people from the EU have filled the vacancies in the lower end of the jobs market, not only in this area, but in hospitality, the care sector etc.
Those that are probably from the poorer countries seem to value even the least well paid jobs, and probably work out better than a local, press ganged employee that doesnt really want to be there.
I think it unlikely that a company that seems to be a genuine world leader, rather than one described by Boris as such, would have reached this status without a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business.
I appreciate that you always want to blame Brexit wherever you can.
If I came across any positive effects of Brexit I would post them. The ending of Freedom of Movement is clearly the result of Brexit.
In 2016, after the vote to Leave, businesses that rely on migrant workers have had some 4.5 years to realign their businesses.
You say that as though there was a clear plan in respect of our future relationship with the EU. Forgetting the fact that David Davis the then Brexit Secretary was assuring the public that we would retain the same benefits. Businesses had a matter of a couple of days notice prior to leaving, and a 1256 page deal to read, in order to find out where they stood.
You would hope that someone with "a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business" would be able to recognise this. Any other business, in the intervening 1600-plus days might have done something. I'm no expert, but I think I would notice if I was 300 workers light.
Just like the NHS arent looking for 100,000 nurses. Another 100,00 for social care. 20,000 coppers. Etc, Etc.
Something radical like, er, increasing wages so that vacancies get filled. Or providing accommodation without charging extortionate amounts for rooms/caravans. Not saying this Company does, but many do. Other Companies have managed to get sufficient staff. It comes at a cost. But trading conditions are ever-changing. This Company has made a commercial decision that it is cheaper to sacrifice some of their flowers, rather than pay workers more. And are pretending otherwise.
Or just including their sector in the Government scheme to import workers from elsewhere
And "world leaders" adapt swiftly to change. Or they cease being world leaders.
Our Government do not seem to have adapted well.
PS-funny how these "migrant workers" never come from a country that has a Minimum Wage.
Isnt that the point rather than being funny. We have plenty that dont want the jobs at any price, and they value them.
Good news is no news. Look at any newspaper. There is little or no good news. Always been like that. People blame the papers. But it is what people pay to read.
It's trite to blame everything on the Government. Was every single detail left to the last minute? No. Some things were last minute, true. But it was always the case that migrant workers were going to be restricted. And lots of businesses have failed to plan sufficiently, despite years of notice.
Lots of UK businesses blaming Brexit for their own failings. I don't see Importers to the UK complaining. They get on and deal with it.
The NHS are making massive efforts to solve their staffing crisis, including support for training and increased status/wages. Wish I could say the same for Social Care. Police numbers have been totally mismanaged-massive cuts followed by moaning there aren't enough.
We can continue trying to rely on 3rd World countries to provide labour in non-essential industries. Or concentrate on real employment for real wages.
I'm sure we'll live if we have to import daffodils.
Just sticking to the facts.
Some recruitment problems are difficult to solve, particularly in the short term.
98% of our seasonal pickers come from abroad.
The Government foresaw the problem, but restricted the scheme put in place to deal with the problem, to the picking of food products.
They ignored the problem in relation to picking 500 million daffodils in Cornwall.
I would have little sympathy if the company had the same problem next year.
Although I dont think that you can ignore the difficulties in recruiting large numbers of poorly paid people for tough jobs in rural areas.
I dont think that you can get away from the fact that it is a problem caused by Brexit.
Neither can you get away from the fact that the solution involves extra costs.
I dont suppose the replacements are flying in from Peru, and the Philippines, at their own cost.
No. How many times. It's caused by poor business planning. With Brexit used as a poor excuse.
It is a Brexit problem caused by the ending of freedom of movement.
It is very silly to suggest that any company could start recruiting for 2021, straight after the referendum in 2016.
I was heavily involved in recruitment throughout my working life.
On many occasions where I interviewed a candidate that I considered suitable, after filling a vacancy, and suggested that I would get back to them when a further vacancy occurred, which was a fairly frequent occurrence in sales, when this happened, nine times out of ten they would have already started another job.
When people are looking for a job they are usually looking for an immediate start.
The government have u-turned on their immigration plans numerous times since 2016.
The company may have recruited staff from elsewhere had they been allowed to do so.
The government saw a problem, and put a plan in place for potato picking, but not daffodils.
You have made a number of sweeping statements about a company that you know nothing about.
The staff shortages I listed earlier have been going on for years.
Who are you going to blame for them?
I could have included customs agents, customs officers, etc etc.
There are thousands of staff shortages for vacancies that are a direct result of Brexit, that havent been filled.
Maybe they could get our fishermen to pick the daffs, they seem to have plenty of time on their hands.
Good news is no news. Look at any newspaper. There is little or no good news. Always been like that. People blame the papers. But it is what people pay to read.
It's trite to blame everything on the Government. Was every single detail left to the last minute? No. Some things were last minute, true. But it was always the case that migrant workers were going to be restricted. And lots of businesses have failed to plan sufficiently, despite years of notice.
Lots of UK businesses blaming Brexit for their own failings. I don't see Importers to the UK complaining. They get on and deal with it.
The NHS are making massive efforts to solve their staffing crisis, including support for training and increased status/wages. Wish I could say the same for Social Care. Police numbers have been totally mismanaged-massive cuts followed by moaning there aren't enough.
We can continue trying to rely on 3rd World countries to provide labour in non-essential industries. Or concentrate on real employment for real wages.
I'm sure we'll live if we have to import daffodils.
UK flower growers hit by post-Brexit labour shortages
Ministers have encouraged farms to recruit UK workers for seasonal picking, but such efforts have borne little fruit as local job seekers balk at tough physical labour that is temporary and often based in remote rural areas.
Adam Taylor, director at Taylors Bulbs in Lincolnshire, said his company would normally harvest up to 40m daffodil stems but this year’s figure would be less than 10m after it downgraded plans on realising it would not be able to recruit enough workers.
He will have fewer than 100 pickers, compared with more than 200 in previous years. His business sells bulbs as well as blooms, but Taylor said harvesting daffodil bulbs alone would not be viable in the long term.
Daffodil growers are feeling the effects of the farmworker shortage already because their crop grows early in the year.
But James Barnes, chair of the Horticultural Trades Association, said that about 9,500 seasonal workers normally take roles across ornamental plant and flower growing, of whom 5,000 to 7,000 were previously casual hires from overseas.
“As the year progresses and as other seasonal horticultural products come through, there will be a further impact,” he added. The shortage would affect seedlings and bedding plants as well as cut flowers, said Barnes.
Newey said the issue was also affecting mixed produce farmers who had previously moved workers between food and ornamental crops, but could no longer do so under the terms of the seasonal scheme.
Brexit forces world’s largest daffodil farm to let flowers rot in fields Cornwall’s Varfell Farms doesn’t have enough pickers as Cornish workers don’t last
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed.
“We have significant recruitment drives for local workers to come and harvest crops,” added Mr Newey. “It’s idealistic to think that because of Covid and the higher than usual unemployment rates that those people would come in and do that work.
“I would say that a daffodil harvester is to be highly respected because the work is very hard. You’re out in the cold weather, it’s in Cornwall, it blows pretty hard down there. It’s wet and you’re bending over picking daffodils for three months.
“Frankly, the people that we’ve had to come and do this work, the locals, may last a day or two days, but they certainly don’t last two or three months.”
A scheme to attract seasonal workers from other parts of the world does not currently include flower picking as part of its remit.
I'm sure I remember you saying you were a "glass half full" person.
Presumably that changed once Brexit arrived.
You see insurmountable problems. I see challenges and business opportunities.
You see that the fact that the majority of seasonal workers are migrants as a problem. You do not think businesses have the primary duty to plan for their own future. Whether that be by making your business more attractive than similar ones, or moving to more full-time staff. And that Governments should now more about the daffodil growing industry than daffodil growers. Or live fish exporting better than live fish exporters. I do not.
You believe that a business that relies on over 90% seasonal staff should wait until 2021 before trying to get 49 caravans for migrant workers. I do not.
You believe that I know nothing about the industry. Let's see. My mother-in-law was a full-time picker for 50 years. In a business that ensured that there were year-round crops, thus necessitating far fewer seasonal workers. Which is the norm round here. Because the changing tax and benefit regime, coupled with changing lifestyles, meant that there was little appetite in the UK for hard manual seasonal work. Unless you believe that The Darling Buds of May is representative of life today.
You may believe that a large Cornish employer stating to the press that he thinks the locals are workshy is wise. I do not.
Does Brexit cause challenges? Of course it does. But if you are a business that hasn't bothered to have a Plan B since 2016, and seek to blame everyone else, then I don't agree that it is all everyone else's fault. Because change means opportunity. Winners as well as losers. And change has always been inevitable in business.
I'm sure I remember you saying you were a "glass half full" person.
I am.
Presumably that changed once Brexit arrived.
No. Are you saying that I cant be positive whilst posting about the effects of Brexit? That probably says more about the effects of Brexit, than it does about me.
You see insurmountable problems. I see challenges and business opportunities.
I have not for a minute said that any problems are insurmountable.
You see that the fact that the majority of seasonal workers are migrants as a problem. You do not think businesses have the primary duty to plan for their own future. Whether that be by making your business more attractive than similar ones, or moving to more full-time staff. And that Governments should now more about the daffodil growing industry than daffodil growers. Or live fish exporting better than live fish exporters. I do not.
It wasnt just a majority, it was 98%. The government saw a problem which was created by Brexit, and put a solution in place. They merely forgot to include ornamental growers.
You believe that a business that relies on over 90% seasonal staff should wait until 2021 before trying to get 49 caravans for migrant workers. I do not.
I dont know who the caravans were intended for. When do you think they should have started recruiting for 2021? They guy said they had made efforts to recruit locally
You believe that I know nothing about the industry. Let's see. My mother-in-law was a full-time picker for 50 years. In a business that ensured that there were year-round crops, thus necessitating far fewer seasonal workers. Which is the norm round here. Because the changing tax and benefit regime, coupled with changing lifestyles, meant that there was little appetite in the UK for hard manual seasonal work. Unless you believe that The Darling Buds of May is representative of life today.
You are completely twisting my words. In your original post on this you made a number of assertions regarding what the company had, and hadnt done, when you have no idea of what recriutment efforts they have made.
You may believe that a large Cornish employer stating to the press that he thinks the locals are workshy is wise. I do not.
Local people obviously make up a massive 2% of the workforce. I think he was making the point that it is a tough job.
Does Brexit cause challenges? Of course it does. But if you are a business that hasn't bothered to have a Plan B since 2016, and seek to blame everyone else, then I don't agree that it is all everyone else's fault. Because change means opportunity. Winners as well as losers. And change has always been inevitable in business.
What would your solution be if you were in the daffs business?
I'm sure I remember you saying you were a "glass half full" person.
I am.
Presumably that changed once Brexit arrived.
No. Are you saying that I cant be positive whilst posting about the effects of Brexit? That probably says more about the effects of Brexit, than it does about me.
You see insurmountable problems. I see challenges and business opportunities.
I have not for a minute said that any problems are insurmountable.
You see that the fact that the majority of seasonal workers are migrants as a problem. You do not think businesses have the primary duty to plan for their own future. Whether that be by making your business more attractive than similar ones, or moving to more full-time staff. And that Governments should now more about the daffodil growing industry than daffodil growers. Or live fish exporting better than live fish exporters. I do not.
It wasnt just a majority, it was 98%. The government saw a problem which was created by Brexit, and put a solution in place. They merely forgot to include ornamental growers.
You believe that a business that relies on over 90% seasonal staff should wait until 2021 before trying to get 49 caravans for migrant workers. I do not.
I dont know who the caravans were intended for. When do you think they should have started recruiting for 2021? They guy said they had made efforts to recruit locally
You believe that I know nothing about the industry. Let's see. My mother-in-law was a full-time picker for 50 years. In a business that ensured that there were year-round crops, thus necessitating far fewer seasonal workers. Which is the norm round here. Because the changing tax and benefit regime, coupled with changing lifestyles, meant that there was little appetite in the UK for hard manual seasonal work. Unless you believe that The Darling Buds of May is representative of life today.
You are completely twisting my words. In your original post on this you made a number of assertions regarding what the company had, and hadnt done, when you have no idea of what recriutment efforts they have made.
You may believe that a large Cornish employer stating to the press that he thinks the locals are workshy is wise. I do not.
Local people obviously make up a massive 2% of the workforce. I think he was making the point that it is a tough job.
Does Brexit cause challenges? Of course it does. But if you are a business that hasn't bothered to have a Plan B since 2016, and seek to blame everyone else, then I don't agree that it is all everyone else's fault. Because change means opportunity. Winners as well as losers. And change has always been inevitable in business.
What would your solution be if you were in the daffs business?
I get that you believe you are an optimist. You may be. But not on UK business post-Brexit.
Locals do not make up 2% of the workforce. They make up 2% of the seasonal workforce. Massive difference. Unless you think their hundreds of permanent workers commute from Romania every day?
The caravan point is self-evident.
I'm not "twisting your words". I'm using them to show that the position is far more nuanced than you want to believe. You make it sound like there were no problems before Brexit. Just to give some examples:-
1. UK ceased to want to spend their holidays doing hard manual labour 2. Then the Travelling community did the same 3. The EU placed restrictions on people from outside the EU 4. The EU initially did not allow certain new entrants free movement 5. The UK has had, under all Governments, a lamentably haphazard approach to economic migration. Making business decisions difficult
Never been in the daffs business. What would I do if I had been? Seek external opinion from an expert. Either from within the industry, or an external expert. Probably more than 1-accountant, business analyst, agronomist, commercial/employment lawyer.
No professional can ever reveal their client. I have never advised this particular Company.
But let's take a hypothetical suggestion. Let's suppose a flower grower, recognising the problems of a business model dependent on migrant workers sought advice. Let's say in 2012. What might my advice have been then? Purely at a guess, it just might have been:-
1. Increase full-timers 2. Diversify produce, so can have a longer harvest 3. More facilities-seasonal workers lack the social interaction local staff enjoy 4. Reward returners/people who influence in their community 5. Compare rivals reward packages, so well positioned to poach staff from rivals
That would have been advice in 2012. Had 1 of their rivals ever contacted me, obviously.
Naturally, they didn't. That must be why you are so sure I know naff all about the subject, and that we need to return to the halcyon days before Brexit. When no business problems existed.
Comments
Joe Biden issued a triumphant rallying call during the Munich Security Conference but failed to mention the UK. The US President hailed the partnership between the United States and Europe as the "cornerstone" of his plans.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/brexit-britain-snub-joe-biden-ignores-boris-johnson-in-munich-speech-and-talks-up-eu-ties/ar-BB1dPOV2?ocid=msedgntp
David Pittam
BBC News Online
Derbyshire Police officers are helping colleagues in Kent deal with Brexit issues, an MP has said.
Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield, said they have been there in recent weeks to help with "public order issues in regard to Brexit lorry shipments".
He added he had been assured they are being paid in overtime so it is not affecting numbers on the street.
A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police said: "This is part of an ongoing, national, mutual aid agreement between police forces."
She added they could not say how many officers were involved "for security reasons".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/uk_leaves_the_eu
Fields of flowers are being left to rot at Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following changes to free movement rules under Brexit.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9286973/Worlds-largest-daffodil-grower-Cornwall-forced-let-flowers-ROT-not-pickers.html
1. The employer is terrible. Doesn't pay minimum wage (and using some form of piecework), or working conditions are horrendous (including ignoring Covid safety guidelines); or
2. The locals are unwilling to work for Minimum Wage.
It is Cornwall. Where work is scarce, and living costs are nothing like London. Number 1 looks favourite to me. With an Employer seeking to blame Brexit (and the locals) for their own shortcomings.
If a British employer is unable to attract British workers, we need to look a lot closer at the viability of such operations.
World's largest daffodil grower in Cornwall is forced to let fields of flowers ROT because there are not enough pickers available after Brexit
Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, is the largest daffodil grower in the world
They produces 500 million stems a year and need 700 workers to pick them
But they are heavily reliant on migrant worker and Brexit ended free movement
Fields of flowers are being left to rot as there are not enough pickers for harvest
Fields of flowers are being left to rot in Cornwall because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following Brexit.
The world's largest daffodil grower, Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, produces 500 million stems a year and needs 700 workers to pick them.
The crops are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and the daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU to help their annual harvest.
But since Covid and the end of free movement following Brexit, the business only has around 400 flower pickers.
The business' owner Alex Newey said that it has to let daffodils rot in the fields as a result.
The world's largest daffodil grower, Varfell Farms in Penzance, Cornwall, has been forced to leave fields of flowers rotting because not enough pickers are available to harvest the crop following Brexit
The Cornish business produces 500 million stems a year and needs 700 workers to pick them but only have 400 since the new free movement rules came into effect post-Brexit
'We can't harvest them, we don't have enough pickers to pick them,' he said.
'We're losing hundreds of thousands of pounds.'
The UK Government's post-Brexit immigration plans moved the UK away from offering visas to low-skilled migrant workers from Europe, drastically reducing the number of workers coming to the UK.
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed.
The crops are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and the daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU to help their annual harvest
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed
'We have significant recruitment drives for local workers to come and harvest crops,' added Mr Newey.
'It's idealistic to think that because of Covid and the higher than usual unemployment rates that those people would come in and do that work.
'I would say that a daffodil harvester is to be highly respected because the work is very hard.
'You're out in the cold weather, it's in Cornwall, it blows pretty hard down there.
'It's wet and you're bending over picking daffodils for three months.
'Frankly, the people that we've had to come and do this work, the locals, may last a day or two days, but they certainly don't last two or three months.'
A scheme to attract seasonal workers from other parts of the world does not currently include flower picking as part of its remit.
The daffodils industry is heavily reliant on migrant workers from the EU sparking fears it could be brought to its knees by Brexit.
Mr Newey said: 'The seasonal worker pilot scheme will allow workers from outside of the EU - that's the important bit, outside the EU - under a visa scheme to come in and harvest food crops.
'There is significant pools of available workers from places such as the Ukraine, Moldova and further afield in South America.
'But for the time being that's only for edible crops. It does not include ornamental crops. By definition, flowers are excluded from that.'
Mr Newey has raised his concerns with the government.
'I have to say the responses are positive and we are hopeful that the ornamentals sector will be included in the scheme, but as yet it hasn't happened. In any event, we're too late for this flower season.'
Earlier this month Varfell Farms was given permission by Cornwall Council to install 49 caravans for workers on the site.
Matt Jarrett, from the company, told a planning meeting that the industry annually contributes £150 million to the UK economy.
He explained that the business was now farming 2,881 acres and had 52 full-time staff as well as 600 seasonal staff.
He added that his operation supplied daffodils to all UK supermarkets as well as exporting them to Europe, the USA and Dubai.
Earlier this month Varfell Farms was given permission by Cornwall Council to install 49 caravans for workers on the site
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9286973/Worlds-largest-daffodil-grower-Cornwall-forced-let-flowers-ROT-not-pickers.html
Although this is covered under the scheme referred to above.
Jersey potato farmers fly in workers from the Philippines to stop crops rotting in the fields and plug gap left by Romanian and Polish migrants after Brexit
Crops have gone to waste this year due to a shortfall in seasonal farm pickers
Usually around 98 per cent of seasonal pickers in the UK come from abroad
Jersey farmers say void has finally been filled by workers from the Philippines
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9147437/Jersey-potato-farmers-fly-workers-Philippines.html
I suppose the fact that 98% of seasonal pickers have come from abroad reinforces that.
It is undoubtedly a very tough job.
Many people from the EU have filled the vacancies in the lower end of the jobs market, not only in this area, but in hospitality, the care sector etc.
Those that are probably from the poorer countries seem to value even the least well paid jobs, and probably work out better than a local, press ganged employee that doesnt really want to be there.
I think it unlikely that a company that seems to be a genuine world leader, rather than one described by Boris as such, would have reached this status without a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business.
In 2016, after the vote to Leave, businesses that rely on migrant workers have had some 4.5 years to realign their businesses.
You would hope that someone with "a reasonable level of skill, expertise, and professionalism in all aspects of the business" would be able to recognise this. Any other business, in the intervening 1600-plus days might have done something. I'm no expert, but I think I would notice if I was 300 workers light.
Something radical like, er, increasing wages so that vacancies get filled. Or providing accommodation without charging extortionate amounts for rooms/caravans. Not saying this Company does, but many do. Other Companies have managed to get sufficient staff. It comes at a cost. But trading conditions are ever-changing. This Company has made a commercial decision that it is cheaper to sacrifice some of their flowers, rather than pay workers more. And are pretending otherwise.
And "world leaders" adapt swiftly to change. Or they cease being world leaders.
PS-funny how these "migrant workers" never come from a country that has a Minimum Wage.
We have plenty that dont want the jobs at any price, and they value them.
It's trite to blame everything on the Government. Was every single detail left to the last minute? No. Some things were last minute, true. But it was always the case that migrant workers were going to be restricted. And lots of businesses have failed to plan sufficiently, despite years of notice.
Lots of UK businesses blaming Brexit for their own failings. I don't see Importers to the UK complaining. They get on and deal with it.
The NHS are making massive efforts to solve their staffing crisis, including support for training and increased status/wages. Wish I could say the same for Social Care. Police numbers have been totally mismanaged-massive cuts followed by moaning there aren't enough.
We can continue trying to rely on 3rd World countries to provide labour in non-essential industries. Or concentrate on real employment for real wages.
I'm sure we'll live if we have to import daffodils.
Some recruitment problems are difficult to solve, particularly in the short term.
98% of our seasonal pickers come from abroad.
The Government foresaw the problem, but restricted the scheme put in place to deal with the problem, to the picking of food products.
They ignored the problem in relation to picking 500 million daffodils in Cornwall.
I would have little sympathy if the company had the same problem next year.
Although I dont think that you can ignore the difficulties in recruiting large numbers of poorly paid people for tough jobs in rural areas.
I dont think that you can get away from the fact that it is a problem caused by Brexit.
Neither can you get away from the fact that the solution involves extra costs.
I dont suppose the replacements are flying in from Peru, and the Philippines, at their own cost.
It's caused by poor business planning. With Brexit used as a poor excuse.
It is very silly to suggest that any company could start recruiting for 2021, straight after the referendum in 2016.
I was heavily involved in recruitment throughout my working life.
On many occasions where I interviewed a candidate that I considered suitable, after filling a vacancy, and suggested that I would get back to them when a further vacancy occurred, which was a fairly frequent occurrence in sales, when this happened, nine times out of ten they would have already started another job.
When people are looking for a job they are usually looking for an immediate start.
The government have u-turned on their immigration plans numerous times since 2016.
The company may have recruited staff from elsewhere had they been allowed to do so.
The government saw a problem, and put a plan in place for potato picking, but not daffodils.
You have made a number of sweeping statements about a company that you know nothing about.
The staff shortages I listed earlier have been going on for years.
Who are you going to blame for them?
I could have included customs agents, customs officers, etc etc.
There are thousands of staff shortages for vacancies that are a direct result of Brexit, that havent been filled.
Maybe they could get our fishermen to pick the daffs, they seem to have plenty of time on their hands.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/exclusive-architect-of-good-friday-agreement-joins-legal-challenge-against-government-over-northern-ireland-protocol/ar-BB1dWXrj?ocid=msedgntp
Good news is no news. Look at any newspaper. There is little or no good news. Always been like that. People blame the papers. But it is what people pay to read.
It's trite to blame everything on the Government. Was every single detail left to the last minute? No. Some things were last minute, true. But it was always the case that migrant workers were going to be restricted. And lots of businesses have failed to plan sufficiently, despite years of notice.
Lots of UK businesses blaming Brexit for their own failings. I don't see Importers to the UK complaining. They get on and deal with it.
The NHS are making massive efforts to solve their staffing crisis, including support for training and increased status/wages. Wish I could say the same for Social Care. Police numbers have been totally mismanaged-massive cuts followed by moaning there aren't enough.
We can continue trying to rely on 3rd World countries to provide labour in non-essential industries. Or concentrate on real employment for real wages.
I'm sure we'll live if we have to import daffodils.
UK flower growers hit by post-Brexit labour shortages
Ministers have encouraged farms to recruit UK workers for seasonal picking, but such efforts have borne little fruit as local job seekers balk at tough physical labour that is temporary and often based in remote rural areas.
Adam Taylor, director at Taylors Bulbs in Lincolnshire, said his company would normally harvest up to 40m daffodil stems but this year’s figure would be less than 10m after it downgraded plans on realising it would not be able to recruit enough workers.
He will have fewer than 100 pickers, compared with more than 200 in previous years. His business sells bulbs as well as blooms, but Taylor said harvesting daffodil bulbs alone would not be viable in the long term.
Daffodil growers are feeling the effects of the farmworker shortage already because their crop grows early in the year.
But James Barnes, chair of the Horticultural Trades Association, said that about 9,500 seasonal workers normally take roles across ornamental plant and flower growing, of whom 5,000 to 7,000 were previously casual hires from overseas.
“As the year progresses and as other seasonal horticultural products come through, there will be a further impact,” he added. The shortage would affect seedlings and bedding plants as well as cut flowers, said Barnes.
Newey said the issue was also affecting mixed produce farmers who had previously moved workers between food and ornamental crops, but could no longer do so under the terms of the seasonal scheme.
https://thefinanceinfo.com/2021/02/20/uk-flower-growers-hit-by-post-brexit-labour-shortages/
Brexit forces world’s largest daffodil farm to let flowers rot in fields
Cornwall’s Varfell Farms doesn’t have enough pickers as Cornish workers don’t last
Hopes that Cornish workers could step into the shoes of those who are now unable to travel from the European Union have been dashed.
“We have significant recruitment drives for local workers to come and harvest crops,” added Mr Newey. “It’s idealistic to think that because of Covid and the higher than usual unemployment rates that those people would come in and do that work.
“I would say that a daffodil harvester is to be highly respected because the work is very hard. You’re out in the cold weather, it’s in Cornwall, it blows pretty hard down there. It’s wet and you’re bending over picking daffodils for three months.
“Frankly, the people that we’ve had to come and do this work, the locals, may last a day or two days, but they certainly don’t last two or three months.”
A scheme to attract seasonal workers from other parts of the world does not currently include flower picking as part of its remit.
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/brexit-forces-worlds-largest-daffodil-5029137
Presumably that changed once Brexit arrived.
You see insurmountable problems. I see challenges and business opportunities.
You see that the fact that the majority of seasonal workers are migrants as a problem. You do not think businesses have the primary duty to plan for their own future. Whether that be by making your business more attractive than similar ones, or moving to more full-time staff. And that Governments should now more about the daffodil growing industry than daffodil growers. Or live fish exporting better than live fish exporters. I do not.
You believe that a business that relies on over 90% seasonal staff should wait until 2021 before trying to get 49 caravans for migrant workers. I do not.
You believe that I know nothing about the industry. Let's see. My mother-in-law was a full-time picker for 50 years. In a business that ensured that there were year-round crops, thus necessitating far fewer seasonal workers. Which is the norm round here. Because the changing tax and benefit regime, coupled with changing lifestyles, meant that there was little appetite in the UK for hard manual seasonal work. Unless you believe that The Darling Buds of May is representative of life today.
You may believe that a large Cornish employer stating to the press that he thinks the locals are workshy is wise. I do not.
Does Brexit cause challenges? Of course it does. But if you are a business that hasn't bothered to have a Plan B since 2016, and seek to blame everyone else, then I don't agree that it is all everyone else's fault. Because change means opportunity. Winners as well as losers. And change has always been inevitable in business.
Locals do not make up 2% of the workforce. They make up 2% of the seasonal workforce. Massive difference. Unless you think their hundreds of permanent workers commute from Romania every day?
The caravan point is self-evident.
I'm not "twisting your words". I'm using them to show that the position is far more nuanced than you want to believe. You make it sound like there were no problems before Brexit. Just to give some examples:-
1. UK ceased to want to spend their holidays doing hard manual labour
2. Then the Travelling community did the same
3. The EU placed restrictions on people from outside the EU
4. The EU initially did not allow certain new entrants free movement
5. The UK has had, under all Governments, a lamentably haphazard approach to economic migration. Making business decisions difficult
Never been in the daffs business. What would I do if I had been? Seek external opinion from an expert. Either from within the industry, or an external expert. Probably more than 1-accountant, business analyst, agronomist, commercial/employment lawyer.
No professional can ever reveal their client. I have never advised this particular Company.
But let's take a hypothetical suggestion. Let's suppose a flower grower, recognising the problems of a business model dependent on migrant workers sought advice. Let's say in 2012. What might my advice have been then? Purely at a guess, it just might have been:-
1. Increase full-timers
2. Diversify produce, so can have a longer harvest
3. More facilities-seasonal workers lack the social interaction local staff enjoy
4. Reward returners/people who influence in their community
5. Compare rivals reward packages, so well positioned to poach staff from rivals
That would have been advice in 2012. Had 1 of their rivals ever contacted me, obviously.
Naturally, they didn't. That must be why you are so sure I know naff all about the subject, and that we need to return to the halcyon days before Brexit. When no business problems existed.
You mentioned earlier in this thread the problems Jersey flower growers were experiencing.
When did Jersey leave the EU? Or indeed join?