Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care

If you choose to train for a job in Agriculture or Animal Care you will be working mainly outdoors. In Agriculture, as an Apprentice you could be working with farm animals or crops. Whatever the job, you can be sure it won't be 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. There will be early starts and late finishes, plus weekend work.

Apprentices need to be physically fit and reliable because you will often be working on your own. If you choose Animal Care, the type of work you do will depend on what kind of animals you will be looking after. If you want to work with big animals like cows and horses, then it's likely you will work on a farm with the same working conditions as in Agriculture. If you want to work with small animals, a job in a vet's practice, animal sanctuary or kennel's would be best.

By choosing a job in Horticulture, Apprentices will be involved in growing plants. landscaping, retailing or all three. The increase in gardening programmes on TV, has led to people spending more time and money in garden centres. As an Apprentice you could also work with commercial growers, in public parks and gardens or golf courses. All these need well trained, highly skilled workers with qualifications.

  • Agriculture, Crops and Livestock

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    This Apprenticeship offers a huge range of opportunities for working on livestock or arable farms.

    Farms vary enormously, from hill farms with a flock of sheep, to vast mechanised arable farms that may be growing crops for bio-fuel.

    As an apprentice, the nature of your work will depend on your employer. Working for a small company could mean you handle a wide range of responsibilities – alternatively, working for a large company might mean you take on a more specialised role.


    On this Apprenticeship, you might learn skills like how to prepare and cultivate sites for planting crops; operate a tractor with attachments; harvest and store crops; and maintain equipment and machines. If your employer deals with livestock, you might learn how to look after herds, load and unload animals for transport, and assist during the breeding season.

     

    The following providers offer this specialism:

  • Animal Care

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    This Apprenticeship is perfect for anyone wishing to work with animals. Many consider work in the animal care industry as one of the most fulfilling roles within the land-based sector, offering opportunities from work in large kennels and catteries to training guide dogs for the blind and dog handling within the armed forces.

    Generally, work in this industry deals with the health, welfare, handling and supervision of small animals – whether that’s working in a zoo or wildlife park, or for the RSPCA. It’s a dedicated profession, as animals need to be looked after 365 days a year.

    As an apprentice, you could find yourself working in many settings and with a range of different animals. You could be grooming dogs; looking after animals in a pet shop, kennel or cattery; assisting the breeding of pedigree animals; training guide dogs; or even taking care of exotic animals in a zoo or wildlife park.


    Your Apprenticeship will vary depending on your employer, but you could learn about health checking; basic animal training; transporting animals; feeding, watering and exercising animals; advising customers and owners; or maintaining a clean and safe working environment.

     

    The following providers offer this specialism

  • Equine

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    This Apprenticeship is suitable for those looking to work in the equine industry. It’s one of the most diverse industries within the land-based sector with opportunities for working in livery yards, riding schools, racing yards and training yards.

    Horses represent a major asset for their owners and need the skilled attention of devoted and well trained staff.


    While this Apprenticeship covers many specialisms, all deal with the welfare, supervision and riding of horses. Your training will focus on either general horse care or racehorse care, depending on your employer. As an apprentice, you could find yourself in one of many job roles such as stable hand, groom, stud assistant or riding instructor. You’ll learn how to take care of horses, which will include everything from feeding and grooming through to exercising.


    There are plenty of roles away from the stables, too. For example, trek assistants who help organise riding groups and ensure everyone stays safe.

    The following providers offer this specialism

  • Game and Wildlife Management

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    Gamekeepers work in the countryside looking after areas managed for shooting called beats or estates. They make sure that there is enough game on their shoots for shooting to take place. Game includes deer, and birds such as grouse, partridge and pheasant. Gamekeepers also actively manage wildlife habitats.

     

    Gamekeepers work closely with farm managers and forestry workers, as well as clients who come to shoot. Their main tasks are rearing young birds from hatcheries, making sure game is kept safe from predators, and making necessary repairs to equipment, buildings and release pens. In the shooting season, they arrange shoots and hire beaters and pickers up.


    Other work includes managing woodland or burning heather, clearing land using power saws and other equipment, building fences and clearing ponds and ditches.


    Gamekeepers work flexible hours according to the season and when jobs need completing. It may involve working long hours and can include early morning, evening and weekend work. Most of their working time is spent outdoors in all weather conditions. There is a lot of walking, and work can involve a great deal of physical effort.

    The following providers offer this specialism

  • Land-Based Service Engineering

    Handbook Symbol6This Apprenticeship deals with the maintenance and repair of a range of mechanised equipment used in agriculture and other land-based industries.

    Land-based service engineers work to solve problems using a combination of scientific, technical and engineering knowledge.


    There is a wide range of opportunities in this area. Possibilities include design development, manufacturing, field engineering, service engineering, and sales and marketing.


    As an Apprentice, you’ll train as a technician and learn how to maintain a variety of machines. The exact nature of your work will depend on your employer – land-based service engineers can work on complex agricultural machinery (e.g. tractors, combine harvesters, sprayers, planters and cultivators), ground care machinery (e.g. mowers, compact tractors), forestry machinery (e.g. chainsaws, wood chippers), fixed machinery (e.g. milking equipment), and construction machinery (e.g. trucks and mini diggers).

    The following providers offer this specialism

    Bishop Burton College
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Grad Cap Graduation Ceremony
Grad Cap Humber Apprentice Panel
Grad Cap Teachers Guide (Adobe PDF 7.7MB)
Grad Cap Apprenticeship Handbook (Adobe PDF 11.9 MB)