Summary
A R Hooper and Partners Ltd. are offering an exciting opportunity to join their team as a General Farm Worker Apprentice. This is a great opportunity to gain an insight into the Dairy Industry and develop new skills.
Wage
£15,704 a year
Training course
General farm worker (level 2)
Hours
You will be working Monday to Friday. Occasionally weekend work will be required on a rota basis. Shift times will range between 6am and 6:30pm dependent on milking rota.
40 hours a week
Possible start date
Monday 1 September
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions available
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you’ll do at work
Daily duties will include:
* Being part of the daily milking rota
* Involved with rearing young stock
* Assist with the grazing management
* Learn how to use a plate meter to measure grass
* Learn how to set up a paddock for grazing
* Learn how to calculate how much feed the cows need for their lactation stage as well as the number milking
* Tractor work would be minimal - scraping out, feeding up
* Fence management
* Check groups of cows/heifers for summer mastitis/lameness/other ill health within the herd
* Calving - September/October are the busiest time for calving at Lower Sessland and therefore the apprentice would be involved in assisting with calvings, checking cows, feeding calves as appropriate for their skill and competence
* Milk recording - there will be the opportunity to help with milk recording to understand the process and why it is important
* Learning about milk quality - cell count, bactoscan, butterfats, proteins, and urea in the milk to form a solid knowledge base of why jobs are done in certain ways in order to get the best milk and therefore profits
* The farm is very focused on cost of production and how to maximise the margin whilst remaining a high animal welfare and a safe and happy working environment
* Vet visits/TB testing - assisting with getting correct animals (picking out), engaging with the vet visit to learn from them and assisting with herd health as appropriate
Where you’ll work
LOWER SESSLAND
SPREYTON
CREDITON
EX17 5BA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
CORNWALL 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
* You will be working towards a Level 2 General Farm Worker Apprenticeship standard. Includes the following qualifications;
o Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, which is a minimum of 1-day course (Ofqual regulated)
o City & Guilds Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance or Lantra Safe use of Pesticides’
* You will receive on and off the job training and support from an assessor and apprenticeship advisor.
* You will be required to attend Bicton College on a fortnightly basis (two days every other week) as part of the apprenticeship training.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
* English (grade 3/D)
* Maths (grade 3/C)
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
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Team working
* Initiative
* Non judgemental
* Physical fitness
Other requirements
Please consider how you will reliably access the workplace on a daily basis and Bicton College on a fortnightly basis. There are no trains or buses within three miles of the farm.