Agricultural apprenticeships provide learners with the right skills and knowledge to succeed in the agriculture industry, while providing employers with new talent equipped to effectively manage a range of farming operations and activities. These apprenticeships support learners from family farms to accelerate their learning in a methodical and managed way, and also provide opportunities for individuals with no links to the farming industry to begin a career in agriculture. For employers, agriculture apprenticeships help grow talent that understand individual farm needs and operations which can improve efficiency and performance. Whether learners are new to farming or experienced, our variety of apprenticeships provide learners of all levels with the skills they need to succeed.
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Employer benefits
- Apprenticeships are accessible for all companies large or small, and are either part or fully funded.
- Agriculture apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to equip your team with the right skills to manage operations at your farm
- Attract the best team of workers – committed, and motivated individuals driven to build a career in agriculture
- Elevate your farming business’s potential by providing your employees with tailor-made agriculture training programmes, structured learning outlets, and transferable skill sets.
The facts
50%
of the food we eat is provided by agriculture
500,000 people are employed by the agriculture industry, which is a key part of the food and drink sector
71%
of the UK's land is managed by farmers and land managers
£11.2bn is the amount the agriculture industry contributes to the UK economy
Learner benefits
- You’ll gain valuable qualifications and skills while earning a salary and not paying tuition fees.
- You do not need a background in farming. Agriculture apprenticeships are a fantastic route to working in the industry and provide opportunities for people from all different backgrounds, including those with no links to the farming industry.
- Our apprentice trainers are passionate about farming too, so you’ll be in great hands when it comes to learning about all areas of agriculture.
- You will get plenty of work experience, solving problems in a real-world agriculture environment. This can really help you not only apply practical knowledge to your studies, but also prepare you for your future career.
- Through your apprenticeship you will have a mentor who can guide and advise you, give you feedback and help you decide what are the best steps for advancing in your career.
- You will benefit from a combination of workplace learning and classroom learning, and through STS your employer may opt to offer you an added value experiential learning course at one of our 12 training centres.
Apprenticeship standards
The world of farming and agriculture relies on a committed and hands-on approach, with experience in the variety of scenarios that can crop up on a day-to-day basis needed to succeed. Farming apprenticeships are therefore a solid route into a career in agriculture, giving you the knowledge, tools, and training to tackle anything that’s thrown your way. Farming can be a hugely rewarding career, and an apprenticeship in this industry can give you the best start in it.
General farm worker apprenticeship
If you’d like to be able to turn your hand to anything on the farm, training to be a general farm worker via an apprenticeship is an important step to take. You’ll learn about the day to day running of a farm, and get involved with health and safety, biosecurity, maintaining crops, animal handling, and the maintenance of farm machinery.
Livestock technician apprenticeship
This apprenticeship focuses on livestock, with emphasis on managing the livestock related tasks on the farm, which include monitoring and managing animal health and welfare, and taking ownership of the process from conception and birth through to the end product.
Assistant farm manager apprenticeship
Learning how to support farm management gives you the skills you need to move into a range of farm or horticultural management positions, with this apprenticeship focusing on various elements of agriculture such as dairy, sheep, cattle, arable field-based vegetables, and energy crops.
The future of farming and agriculture rests on the next generation, and the responsibility lies with us to show them the ropes. Farmers and agriculturalists are the unsung heroes of British food production and land management, making the work we do in partnership with farmers to educate the next generation of farm workers and managers vital to the UK economy.
The best fit
An agriculture apprenticeship is a great fit for you if:
- You are passionate about the outdoors
- Love the idea of a practical job and working outside everyday
- A practical person who cares for animal welfare
- Respect the environment and recognise the importance of safety procedures
Career opportunities
An agriculture apprenticeship will provide you with the right skills and behaviours to work in a wide variety of roles, to name a few;
- Farm worker
- Crop manager
- Agricultural engineer
