Start Date
- September 2026, Apprenticeship, Day
What You Will Study
The broad purpose of the occupation is to professionally operate and support the management of an agricultural or horticultural business such as a farm. You will assist in the management at every stage, from the beginning of the product life cycle with the primary resource (seed for crops or breeding for livestock), during the production of the livestock or crops and through to either farm gate sale or direct supply to the consumer. You will consider human, plant and animal health and welfare standards, and environmental priorities.
Assistant farm managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of a farm enterprise, or enterprises, to achieve productivity and environmental business objectives, industry benchmarks and KPIs. You will understand financial performance and control within the enterprise. Record keeping, data collection, data analysis and effective action planning will be key duties.
You will manage people within your influence, which could include a small number of farm staff. You will also contribute to staff and personnel management, including appraisals, continuous professional development and updating of industry knowledge. Assistant farm managers would require relevant knowledge into current and future technologies, innovation and sustainability as this area will become a key focus in the future, such as precision farming and machinery operations. Assistant farm managers also have responsibility for the day-to-day management requirements of supply chain contract requirements/protocols, farm assurance, carbon audits and legislation and industry standards for soil and management.
Entry Requirements
You will need to have achieved a grade 4/C in GCSE English language and maths, or:
- Level 2 Functional Skills equivalent
- Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject
In order to enrol onto an apprenticeship, you need to be employed in a relevant job role and undertake a range of tasks which would enable you to complete the qualification.
How You Will Be Assessed
You will be required to attend college-based sessions as part of your training, whilst also completing off-the-job training, assessments and observations in the workplace.
At the end of the apprenticeship you will complete an EPA which will consist of a:
- Business case assignment with questioning
- Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio
- Farm or horticultural site walk (underpinned by portfolio)
Course Progression
This course will support your progression, which could include but is not limited to:
- Progressing to study Level 6 Agriculture
- Becoming a Horticulture Professional Adviser, Agronomist, or Precision Farming Adviser
Fees
Apprenticeship course fees are subject to the age of the apprentice, and the size of the company.
For employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy and who take on an apprentice who is aged between 16-21 at the start of their apprenticeship, there will be no direct cost and the full training costs will be covered by Government funding. If the apprentice is aged 22+ the government partially subsidises the training costs and the employer will need to pay 5% of the total fee. In the case of this course, the employer contribution would be £550.
A levy paying company will pay the full cost of the apprenticeship from their levy account, which in this case would be £11,000.
Please note that course fees are paid by the employer and apprentices must not be asked to make a financial contribution toward their training.
To discuss apprenticeship course fees in more detail or for more information on recruiting an apprentice, please contact 01603 773365 or Apprenticeships@ccn.ac.uk
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