Livestock Unit Technician Apprentice

Summary

Springwater Farm are offering an exciting opportunity to join their dynamic team as a Livestock Unit Technician apprentice! Gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to advance your career in the agricultural sector.

Wage

£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Livestock unit technician (level 3)

Hours

The days to cover the 30 hours are open to negotiation. 8.00am - 5.00pm.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

This job will be varied but the main duties will be:

Looking after the cattle; bedding up, moving livestock, feeding.
Tractor work; silage, hay and straw.
Checking on the pigs; this is a daily duty, making sure they are in the right area, check on their welfare.
Countryside work; working closely with the National Trust and their rangers.
General farm maintenance.

Where you'll work

DAIRY COTTAGE
COLUMBJOHN FARM
REWE
EXETER
EX5 4ER

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CORNWALL COLLEGE

Your training course

Livestock unit technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Plan, implement, monitor and review health and safety of self, others and livestock; including risk assessments and biosecurity policy.
Manage, monitor and evaluate the financial viability of delivered diets, using relevant resources
Maintain, analyse and utilize production records (both written and digital) to improve productivity and aid compliance
Implement breeding plan, monitor and manage the physical condition and check that selected stock are in the correct condition for breeding.
Use the most appropriate technology or digital system (for example, robotic milking, EID tagging, GPS tracking) to ensure that livestock performance is optimised, and its health and welfare is maintained.
Prepare, maintain and operate farm vehicles, and attachments, in different environmental and ground conditions
Carry out day-to-day management of unit conforming to current welfare legislation and current industry welfare codes, including planning for personnel and undertake key activities, to meet KPI’s
Implement, monitor, manage and review livestock health & welfare plan.
Ensure that grass and forage crops are of the appropriate quality and quantity in accordance with farm KPIs
Plan, implement, monitor and review movement of livestock at different stages of production cycle, including preparation of movement documents and allocating resource
Plan and implement cleaning procedures across the livestock unit, including management of manure and manage livestock in accommodation
Implement changes to policy and working practice, based on market factors such as price, supply chain requirements and new legislation
Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders to support business operation and development
Select and prepare livestock for sale or transfer in accordance with health and safety requirements.
Identify need for euthanasia, contact relevant professionals and complete necessary paperwork
Plan, implement, monitor and review health and safety of self, others and livestock; including risk assessments and biosecurity policy.
Manage, monitor and evaluate the financial viability of delivered diets, using relevant resources
Maintain, analyse and utilize production records (both written and digital) to improve productivity and aid compliance
Implement breeding plan, monitor and manage the physical condition and check that selected stock are in the correct condition for breeding.
Use the most appropriate technology or digital system (for example, robotic milking, EID tagging, GPS tracking) to ensure that livestock performance is optimised, and its health and welfare is maintained.
Prepare, maintain and operate farm vehicles, and attachments, in different environmental and ground conditions
Carry out day-to-day management of unit conforming to current welfare legislation and current industry welfare codes, including planning for personnel and undertake key activities, to meet KPI’s
Implement, monitor, manage and review livestock health & welfare plan.
Ensure that grass and forage crops are of the appropriate quality and quantity in accordance with farm KPIs
Plan, implement, monitor and review movement of livestock at different stages of production cycle, including preparation of movement documents and allocating resource
Plan and implement cleaning procedures across the livestock unit, including management of manure and manage livestock in accommodation
Implement changes to policy and working practice, based on market factors such as price, supply chain requirements and new legislation
Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders to support business operation and development
Select and prepare livestock for sale or transfer in accordance with health and safety requirements.
Identify need for euthanasia, contact relevant professionals and complete necessary paperwork

Your training plan

The apprenticeship is delivered from Bicton College, in the form of block weeks. The apprentice will spend their working time with the employer, and roughly every 6 weeks they will spend a full week at Bicton College. Accommodation is available on site.

You will be working towards a Level 3 Livestock Unit Technician Apprenticeship Standard.

You will receive on and off-the-job training and support from an assessor and an Apprenticeship Advisor.

More training information

Included qualifications are Emergency First Aid at Work, Level 2 Safe Use of Vet Meds, PA1.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

4/C (grade English)
4/C (grade Maths)

Other in:

NA (grade NA)

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

NA (grade NA)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Logical
Creative
Initiative

Other requirements

This is a rural location and the farm is spread over two sites, so being able to drive is a must.

About this company

Our business started in 2018. We had a clear vision, both Jason and myself had always had a love for farming with myself fortunate to grow up living on a small scale organic farm & Jason already working on a local farm these were the foundations which led us to the passion we feel today. We decided we wanted to go on our own path and push the ever growing regenerative farming movement in our own way so set about enquiries to rent land locally to start up our own small scale enterprise. We landed on our feet to have our vision welcomed by a local landowner who allowed us 70 acres of organic permanent pasture to rent. Protecting our soils health and providing customers with direct doorstep delivery of the highest quality and welfare produce money could buy was what we were hoping to achieve. In 2023 we received recognition on multiple levels and we can proudly say we are now the youngest first generation tenants to secure a National Trust tenancy renting over 900 acres and raising our family on a beautiful farm on the Killerton estate.

https://springwaterfarmproduce.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

There is the opportunity to stay with the employer for the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: