Apprentice General Farm Worker

Plumpton College

Lewes, BN7 3AS

Closes in 15 days (Monday 14 October at 11:59pm)

Posted on 25 September 2024

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Summary

We are currently seeking to recruit an Apprentice to work on our 800ha mixed farm. The successful candidate will work with a variety of machinery and learn multiple farming methods, in addition to completing training relevant to the role such as forklift and pesticide. They will also have the opportunity to learn from our experienced farm staff.

Annual wage
£23,795.20 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
General farm worker (level 2)
Hours
Typical working hours are Monday to Friday from approximately 7.00am to 5.00 pm with every other weekend worked as required and overtime to help with harvest.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 21 October

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

Day to day tasks will vary but will include: 

  • supporting the operation of farm enterprises through maintaining a culture of health and safety, biosecurity and engaging with academic staff/students
  • Maintaining crops, undertaking animal handling and health checks, and maintaining and cleaning the farm and machinery.
  • Driving farm vehicles
  • Working alongside our farm and enterprise managers, supporting daily operations for the farm enterprises including feeding, bedding and maintaining animal health, fieldwork, conducting routine tasks and assisting with general record-keeping practices 
  • Helping with the storage of forage and crops, minimizing waste and disposing of necessary waste appropriately
  • Assisting with Animal welfare and risk awareness and prevention are integral to this occupation

Where you’ll work

Lambert Farm

Plumpton

Lewes

BN7 3AS

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

PLUMPTON 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

    Training will take place once every two weeks at Plumpton College. 

    Requirements

    Desirable qualifications

    GCSE in:

    • English (grade 4)
    • Maths (grade 4)

    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
    • Problem solving skills
    • Logical
    • Team working
    • Initiative
    • Non judgemental
    • Patience
    • Physical fitness

    Other requirements

    Plumpton College and the farm are in rural locations, and our coach networks will not be compatible with working hours, therefore having your own reliable transport is strongly advised.

    About this company

    Lambert Farm is the commercial farm belonging to Plumpton College. The farm stretches to 800 hectare over a number of sites and carries the following enterprises: A 250-cow dairy herd. The herd is split into two groups, one is milked robotically and the other is milked in a Herringbone Parlour. Replacements are reared on site and beef calves are sold to a local farmer. A herd of 50 pedigree Sussex suckler cows. The herd is split into a Spring and Autumn calving herd and spend the majority of their time living outdoors on The Downs where they are used for conservation grazing. - A herd of 100 sows producing 2500 progeny per year for the local meat trade. The herd is housed in a brand-new unit which is of a very high welfare standard and incorporates the latest electronic ventilation and feeding systems. A flock of 450 ewes incorporating a pedigree flock of Southdowns lambing in March and a commercial flock lambing in March. A forage and arable enterprise producing a range of crops for sale or for consumption by our livestock.

    After this apprenticeship

    The option to continue working and developing on the farm may be availble after the apprenticeship. Higher level qualifications are also avalible. 

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    PLUMPTON COLLEGE

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000279009.

    Apply now

    Closes in 15 days (Monday 14 October at 11:59pm)

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