The Rural Economy

Migrant Workforce

The Extent, Size and Characteristics of the Migrant Workforce in the Vale of Evesham

In February 2004, Wychavon District Council published a report from the Vale of Evesham Agriculture and Food Distribution Policy Development Panel. This panel looked into a range of issues such as use of lorries and the impact of the industry on communities in the Vale of Evesham.
The report, Vale of Evesham Agriculture and Food Distribution Policy  (881.37 KB) is avalible to view. Recommendation 37 of this report supports the call for Government to carry out detailed research into accurate measurement of the numbers of casual workers in the Food and Farming sector.  It goes on to state that the Vale of Evesham would make an appropriate pilot study.

This research is the culmination of that pilot.  Using funding from the Countryside Agency and from our partners at the Diocese of Worcester and South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, Wychavon District Council commissioned Mercia Research & Strategy to carry out the work. Susan Lanz and Rob Gullen from Mercia have interviewed local companies who use migrant labour, a labour provider, local colleges, the housing department at Wychavon District Council, and met individual migrants.  Their report highlights the fact that migrants are often skilled workers with aspirations to move into other areas once they have improved their language skills, and that they make a positive contribution to the economy.  They will often need support in accessing health care, and there are many myths and misunderstandings within the workforce as to when they are able to do this.  They also want to access English language courses.  The rate of people applying for English as a Second Language courses at Evesham College rocketed ten-fold following the accession of former Eastern Bloc countries into the EU from May 2004.

This report was succesfully launched on Tuesday 25^th April 2006 at the Wychavon Civic Centre in Pershore.
You can now download the Full Report  (364.32 KB) or the.Executive Summary  (50.70 KB)

If you would like more information on this subject, please contact

Jane Dobson
Economic Development Office at Wychavon District Councill
Telephone: (01386) 565278
Email: jane.dobson@wychavon.gov.uk

One of the recommendations of the research is Wychavon District Council should work with other Local Authorities where migrant labour is an issue. In fact we do have working links, particularly with South Holland in Linconshire. Relationship were developed during the process of writing the Vale of Evesham Agriculture and Food Distribution Policy. This led to a wider partnership with a number of private, public and voluntary sector bodies, and the submission of the 'Migralink' European Social Fund bid in July 2004 This bid was widely believed to be strong and to have a good chance of success. It was disappointing therefore to be told that the bid had failed, especially in the context of no rural bids at all being funded under the Equal programme.

The lack of funding put a brake on activities, but South Holland District Council have continued to do a great deal of work on migrant labour issues, and have now developed the website www.migrantworkers.co.uk. Our report is available on this website, and we are revitalising our relationship with South Holland and other Local Authorities in the East of England, and are also seeking to share more information with our near neighbours in Herefordshire. We hope their website is a great success, and will continue to contribute to it.

Updated Research October 2008

Wychavon District Council has been working with the Improvement and Development Agency, or I&DeA, on the Migration Excellence programme.  As part of this programme we have produced a ‘mini scenarios’ report looking at the possible impact on the economy and on local communities of changes in numbers of migrant workers coming to Wychavon.  

It is clear that the public and private sector will have to work to attract migrants to the area in the face of stiff competition from other parts of the UK, in particular Kent and the South East.  In order in particular for our farming and food production to prosper, conditions have to be attractive to potential employees.  This and a number of other factors are clear from the full report and the executive summary.

Executive Summary  (69.63 KB)

Full Report  (753.24 KB)

Data Appendix  (997.26 KB)

If you have any questions at all on this work, please contact either Chris Brooks on 01386 565343 or chris.brooks@wychavon.gov.uk or Jane Dobson on 01386 565278 or jane.dobson@wychavon.gov.uk

Farmers Markets

The Council continues to promote rural food businesses with its support for Farmers’ Markets. A full programme has been arranged of regular markets, and special event Farmers’ Markets in Evesham, Pershore and Droitwich Spa. For more details including venues, dates and times please click here.

The Rural Hub

Farmers and growers in Northwest Worcestershire originally set up the Rural Hub. Today it is a non-profit making organisation of individual farmers and growers, and representatives from public and private sector companies, who have an interest in securing a viable and sustainable future for Worcestershire’s rural economy.

A full-time facilitator and part-time administrator are based in Pershore, and funded by Defra. They are available to assist farmers and rural businesses in applying for funding under the Rural Enterprise Scheme, introduced by Defra in 2000 as part of the England Rural Development Programme. If you are considering applying for a RES grant and require further assistance with your application, or would like more information on becoming a Rural Hub member contact Mark Hall on 01386 553701.