Mr Sheerman was responding to the launch of the sector skills agreement for the environmental and land-based industries in England.
The agreement, which follows a similar initiative launched in Scotland, is brokered by the land-based industries sector skills council Lantra and involves collaboration between employers and trade associations in order to boost skill levels.
“The future of skills training is essential to this varied sector and supporting the implementation of the agreement must take high priority,” said Mr Sheerman.
