Agriculture Apprenticeships
Ah, the sweet smell of the country air. Or perhaps not quite so sweet if you are at a working farm, where manure is being spread on the fields to promote crop growth. If you are easily offended by countryside smells, don’t worry you will either get used to it or decide very quickly that an agriculture apprenticeship isn’t for you.
What is an Agriculture Apprenticeship?
Agriculture provides the backbone of the food growing industry in the UK. There are a great many farmers and some work as their own small SMEs whereas others have been taken over by large enterprises. Whichever kind you end up being apprenticed to, you will spend your time outside in all weathers and build your knowledge of the science surrounding crop husbandry and the ways to get the best yields from crop harvests.
What are the Benefits of an Agriculture Apprenticeship?
The food and drink industry is one of the major ones in the UK and there are over 466,000 people working in the agriculture sector, so there are always jobs in the area that you are apprenticing in. Job security is at the forefront of many people’s minds during an economic turn down and it is important that you look towards jobs like this that will endure, no matter what the future may hold in other sectors.
What does an Agriculture Apprenticeship Involve?
As with all of the other apprenticeship standards in the UK, an Agriculture Apprenticeship will see you spend 80% of your time in on-the-job training, which is when you are undertaking the actual job role, usually outside. The other 20% is spent inside in the warmth where you will be studying the scientific foundation for crop husbandry and other industry related texts. This is what is known as off-the-job training.
Am I suited to an Agriculture Apprenticeship?
If you are someone who really feels the cold then this may not be the apprenticeship for you. Otherwise, it is an excellent opportunity to spend a lot of time outdoors. There is much walking involved so there is definitely a level of fitness required, as well as a keen mental aptitude for learning new things. You will be dealing directly with farmers and other agricultural workers so it is also important that you have good people skills and are able to talk naturally with a wide variety of people.
Find an Agriculture Apprenticeship Today
An agriculture apprenticeship is a great first step into the world of work and if you would like to find one in your own area, you can peruse our dedicated apprenticeship jobs board.
Alternatively, if you don’t quite feel ready to commit to an apprenticeship just yet you can read up on reasons for starting an apprenticeship and who can start an apprenticeship for some more information to help you out.
