The Pick for Britain site will act as a hub to direct people to jobs available to help harvest the large amount of crops across the country that are otherwise in danger of spoilage.
The UK has long been reliant on migrant workers to carry out fruit and vegetable picking jobs but the shortage of overseas workers following Brexit and the additional travel restrictions put in place because of the Coronavirus pandemic has led to a major shortage in seasonal workers during this period.
People who have been furloughed as a result of the Coronavirus and the UK lockdown – including those who work in hospitality, are being encouraged to sign up to jobs, with an estimated 70,000 seasonal staff required.
People may undertake other employment while their current employer has placed them on furlough (including seasonal agricultural work), and this will not affect the grant that they can claim under the scheme.
Jobs include working outside in the fields, in polytunnels or in glasshouses, picking fruit and vegetables such as strawberries, apples, peppers, asparagus and spring onions and working in a packhouse to sort fruit or vegetables and pack into units, ready for distribution.
Other jobs listed on the Pick for Britain website as being required include plant husbandry, including planting, weeding, plant management and maintenance, and forklift drivers, tractor drivers and van drivers.