Summary
General Farm worker Apprenticeship with Pathways into a career in either Dairy Farming or Crop technician (arable) depending on ability and preference. Working between the two sides of a busy dairy farm and the arable land that feeds the cows.
Annual wage
£13,312 to £23,795.20 a year
Wages will increase with performance reviews. National apprentice minimum wage or above in first year. In year 2 National minimum wage for age or above. competitive rates on completion.
Training course
General farm worker (level 2)
Hours
40 hours per week. Hours may vary with need. May be a possibility for additional hours dep on age (Working days and hours TBC).
40 hours a week
Possible start date
Saturday 1 February
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions available
1
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
The apprentice will join part of the team delivering animal care to the Dairy Livestock including:
* Basic general maintenance and cleaning of the site
* Basic tractor work including trailers
* Feeding
* Cleaning pens
* Scraping
* Milking
* Calf rearing
The tasks include working in barns around livestock, working outdoors in all weather.
Where you’ll work
Main Road,
North Tuddenham
Dereham
NR20 3HD
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE
Your training course
General farm worker (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
* Identify hazards and risks in the workplace, prepare risk assessments and demonstrate high level of health and safety awareness at all times.
* Maintain the correct hygiene and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with relevant legal requirements
* Check that animal welfare needs related to their environment and housing are maintained, including manure management, ensuring the suitability of indoor and outdoor environment and bedding up of animals
* Assist with safe restraint, moving and handling of livestock.
* Legally operate a farm vehicle and each attachment according to health and safety requirements. For example, tractors and ATVs along with other vehicles integral to the business.
* Demonstrate good environmental practice in the workplace, in accordance with environmental assessment plans and associated legal requirements
* Assist with post-harvest activities to meet crop and forage specifications, in a safe and environmentally acceptable way
* Carry out maintenance of farm infrastructure (including housing for livestock, boundaries and electric or non-electric fences), machinery and equipment, as instructed
* Complete manual and electronic records in accordance with legislation and the business processes.
* Monitor and maintain health & welfare of livestock and assist with treatments when appropriate.
* Monitor the quantity and quality of grass and forage crops and report findings to appropriate person.
* Provide feed and water to livestock as instructed and report any issues to appropriate person
* Assist with caring for livestock during the reproductive cycle, from service to weaning. For example, identify signs of heat.
* Produce products for sale from the business (for example, milking, shearing, lambing, harvesting)
* Assist with the preparation of the ground, including identification of soil condition through soil sampling and preparing crop for planting
* Load, unload and complete paperwork for transportation of resources manually and using loading equipment, according to instruction
* Monitor the growth and development of crops in line with customer specification, as instructed
* Identify hazards and risks in the workplace, prepare risk assessments and demonstrate high level of health and safety awareness at all times.
* Maintain the correct hygiene and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with relevant legal requirements
* Check that animal welfare needs related to their environment and housing are maintained, including manure management, ensuring the suitability of indoor and outdoor environment and bedding up of animals
* Assist with safe restraint, moving and handling of livestock.
* Legally operate a farm vehicle and each attachment according to health and safety requirements. For example, tractors and ATVs along with other vehicles integral to the business.
* Demonstrate good environmental practice in the workplace, in accordance with environmental assessment plans and associated legal requirements
* Assist with post-harvest activities to meet crop and forage specifications, in a safe and environmentally acceptable way
* Carry out maintenance of farm infrastructure (including housing for livestock, boundaries and electric or non-electric fences), machinery and equipment, as instructed
* Complete manual and electronic records in accordance with legislation and the business processes.
Your training plan
The apprenticeship will be delivered on site. This means there will be no need to travel to college. All your time will be spent at the farm approx. 40 hours per week. This will be split between on the job (80%), and (20%) off the job training.
Off the job training includes:
* Assignments set by your tutor
* Job shadowing and workplace learning
* Online sessions
* Your own research
* completing OFJ records
* adding to your online portfolio of Evidence
This will be supported by regular reviews and on-site visits.
More training information
Upon completion depending on preference and ability there will be an option to explore further specialist training in one of two pathways.
* Crop technician Level 3
* Dairy Technologist Level 5
There is also the option for full-time employment.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
Other in:
* Full UK licence (grade pass)
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade 2 or above)
* Maths (grade 2 or above)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Team working
* Physical fitness
* outdoor working
Other requirements
The Applicant must be comfortable working outdoors, conducting physical work and working around Livestock Animals with all the smells, mess and mud a Farm brings. Operating machinery including tractors. The site is Rural own transport essential