About the course
This occupation is found in..
Agriculture, Animal Health and Welfare
The broad purpose of the occupation is �
to support the operation of farm enterprises through maintaining a culture of health and safety, biosecurity, engaging with third parties, maintaining crop, animal handling and health, maintenance and cleanliness of machinery. The General Farm Worker will typically be required to drive farm vehicles and must hold the appropriate license. The individual will work alongside the supervisor, supporting daily operations for the farm enterprises including identifying and maintaining animal or plant health performance, conducting routine tasks and assisting with general record keeping practices. The individual will manage the storage of forage and crop, minimising waste and disposing of necessary waste appropriately. Animal welfare and risk awareness and prevention are integral to this occupation.
A General Farm Worker is likely to specialise in Livestock or Crop. This Apprenticeship Standard takes a core and options approach. All apprentices will complete the core and must select the one most appropriate option to their role: Livestock Worker or Crop Worker.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with �
the internal farm team reporting to a line manager, and with a number of external stakeholders including vets, farm advisor, contractors and other consultants to the business.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for �
carrying out routine work set by their supervisor, to the required business standards. This includes assisting with animal and plant health and nutrition, maintaining health and safety and biosecurity, operating farm vehicles and optimising the environmental impacts of animal and crop performance. Office work is minimal although basic daily record keeping will be required. Typical working hours will depend on farm type and labour structure. A farm worker will be expected to do long hours, only as permitted within UK employment law.
Key Information
Location: Employers Premises
Course length: Two Years
Start date: August 2025
Interested in taking this course? Click here to apply for this course online
Entry requirements & additional information
A potential Level 2 apprentice: Must be aged 16 or over & have officially left school. Must be employed (NOT self-employed) in the relevant occupational sector, working a minimum of 30 hours per week. An individual can only undertake an apprenticeship at the same or lower level than a qualification they already hold, if this allows the individual to acquire substantive new skills and the content of the training is materially different from any prior training or a previous apprenticeship. Must have the right to work in England & spend at least 50% of their working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship. Must be a citizen of a country with in the European Economic Area (EEA) or have the right of abode in the UK AND have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning. All Apprenticeships require Initial assessment, vocational skills scan, an interview and employment in the industry. Typically, an applicant will have attained a minimum of 4 GCSEs at Grade E/2 or above including maths & English or a vocational qualification Level 1 plus GCSE grade E/2 or above in both maths & English. N.B. English & maths Functional Skills Level 1 will be accepted as an alternative to GCSEs. All potential apprentices will be asked to complete an online functional skills assessment regardless of previous qualifications. Apprentices who begin their apprenticeship training when aged 19+ will no longer be subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and Maths. However English and Maths will still be delivered as an embedded part of the apprenticeship. For apprentices aged 19+, the apprentice or their employer can still choose for the apprentice to study towards and achieve English and Maths qualification. 'The college advises learners to keep studying English and maths to enhance their career prospects and facilitate progression to higher-level qualifications'. The government will continue to fund those apprentices that wish to study towards an English and maths qualification. Exceptional entries will be considered for all Apprenticeships at the discretion of the college based on experience, successful interview and outcomes of Initial and Diagnostic assessments for English and Maths to establish current levels of ability.
Training to develop the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) of the occupational standard. Training towards mandated qualifications. Training towards English and mathematics Levels 1 and 2, if required. Compiling a portfolio of evidence.
Following this apprentieship most apprentices secure permanent employment and progress in terms of responsibilties. There is also the option of progression onto the Level 3 Livestock Technician Apprenticeship.
All apprentices are required to have suitable employment in order to complete the programme. A contract of employment must be in place and apprentices must be paid in line with minimum wage rules. Programme costs are covered by employers through their digital apprenticeship service account.