What will the apprentice be doing on site

Level 3 Apprenticeship Crop Technician / General Farm worker

The successful candidate will undertake a Level 3 Crop Technician apprenticeship while working as a General Farm Worker.

They will be responsible for operating and maintaining their assigned tractor and equipment in accordance with service and maintenance schedules.

Key duties will include:

Topping and muck spreading
Mucking out cattle sheds using a telehandler
Bale carting
Harvest work
Livestock support (with an emphasis on machinery operations rather than livestock husbandry)
Crop spraying (once qualified and certified)
Operating farm machinery and equipment safely and efficiently

The role includes working on your own at times and operating farm vehicles on public roads (min age 18).

Due to the nature of farming, long hours will be required during busy periods.

Relevant information about the project

This is a Flexi-Job Apprenticeship, with potential employment opportunities available upon successful completion.

Are there restrictions

Be at least 18 years old to operate a telehandler on UK roads
Live within a reasonable commuting distance of the farm
Have their own transport and be able to travel to and from Norwich and Dereham

The apprentice will need

Full UK driving licence
Their own transport
A genuine passion for farming

What sort of candidate are you looking for

This role involves working outdoors in all weather conditions and can be physically demanding, with long working hours during peak seasons.

The ideal candidate will:

Be physically fit and capable of manual work
Have a good standard of numeracy and literacy
Communicate effectively with colleagues and supervisors
Take pride in completing tasks to a high standard without cutting corners
Be a team player who puts the needs of the team first
Be motivated by hard work and a strong sense of achievement

Essential qualities

Strong work ethic
Team-first attitude with a hands-on approach
Ability to commit to long and flexible working hours
Understanding of the seasonal demands and flexibility required in farming

Desirable qualities

Tractor operating experience
Telehandler operating experience
Previous farming experience

Qualifications Required

Grade C/4 Maths and English GCSE or equivalent is desirable.

Relevant information about the site

A diverse family run farming business based in Mid-Norfolk near the market town of Dereham. The farm manages 1,800 hectares of land, part-owned, part-tenanted and part-contracted. It is primarily a cereals and arable enterprise, but they also have a flock of 1,200 ewes and over 100 Red Poll cattle.