Apprentice Crop Technician
DARBY NURSERY STOCK LTD
NORFOLK, Thetford
Closes in 30 days (Saturday 14 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 14 May 2025
Contents
Summary
As an apprentice you will gain practical experience and knowledge in various aspects of horticulture, plant care, and nursery operations. This promotes day-to-day tasks necessary for nurturing plants from plugs to saleable size, plant biology, pest management, and use of various machinery. You will gain a solid foundation to further your career.
- Wage
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£16,099 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Wage will be dependent on age. For a 16-17 year old apprentice, the annual wage will be £16,099 (£8.60 per hour). For an 18-20 year old apprentice, the annual wage will be £18,720 (£10.00 per hour).
- Training course
- Crop technician (level 3)
- Hours
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Working hours will be
Monday- Friday, 07:30- 16:00
40 minute break every day
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
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2 years 6 months
- Positions available
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3
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
The ideal candidate will already have an interest in production horticulture and the apprenticeship will allow the furthering of knowledge and development of new skill sets.
Main duties will include:
- Daily tasks would include moving, grading and irrigation management
- Pruning and selecting plants for orders and weeding
- Completing job sheets for spraying once the correct qualifications have been achieved
Where you'll work
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- OLD FELTWELL ROAD, METHWOLD, THETFORD, NORFOLK, IP26 4PW
- Broad Fen Farm, Severalls Road, Methwold Hythe, Thetford, IP26 4QU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
CITY COLLEGE NORWICH
Your training course
Crop technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
Your training plan
For the full apprenticeship, candidates will complete:
- Level 3 Crop Technician Apprenticeship Standard
- If not previously achieved, Level 1-2 in Functional Skills English and maths
- First Aid
- PA1 (Safe Use of Pesticides)
- PA2 (Ground Crop Sprayer Hydraulic Nozzle)
For the End Point Assessment (EPA) apprentices will undertake a knowledge test, practical demonstration and a professional discussion.
Apprentices must attend college sessions in block weeks at the Easton campus, located to the west of Norwich.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
English and Maths (grade 4)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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Initiative
- Strong work ethic
- Pride in work
- Integrity and honesty
- Excellent time management
- Loyalty and respect
- Willing to learn
- Commitment to development
- Positive attitude
- Dependable and ethical
- Responsible
- Flexible and reliable
Other requirements
Candidates must have GCSE grade 4/ C in English and Maths or the Level 2 Functional Skills equivalent. Applications from candidates with grade 3/ D in these subjects will be considered on a case- by- case basis and candidates will have to take an initial assessment before they are offered a place on the course. Functional Skills sessions will run during the block week at the Easton campus and require attendance. Applicants who are currently undertaking or sitting GCSEs should include their predicted grades on their application. If successful for this position, you will be offered a conditional place on the apprenticeship, subject to you meeting the entry requirements listed above. The role will be working in glasshouses and polytunnels as well as outdoor work and at times work may need to be carried out in poor weather. There will be some tasks which are repetitive due to the nature of the role whilst maintaining a commercial quality and speed. Daily tasks include the use of horticultural machinery, and operation of tractors and forklifts. Please note that due to the location of the nursery, candidates will need to have their own method of transport as there is limited public transport in the area. As part of this apprenticeship, you will be required to travel also attend college. Please ensure that you have researched your travel arrangements and are happy with the time it will take and distance required to travel, before you apply for this vacancy.
About this company
Darby Nursery Stock is a family- run business based in Methwold, Norfolk. For over six decades, we’ve been supplying UK garden centres with British-grown premium plants that look magnificent on shelves from day one. We offer a comprehensive range across six main product categories – Shrubs, Perennials, Clematis, Climbers, Trees and Soft Fruit – all grown slowly and ‘tough’ at our all-weather sites in Norfolk to ensure they are unforced and hardy. Focusing on varieties that we know will both sell well in garden centres and perform well in UK gardens, there is plenty to catch every customer’s eye, from old favourites and A-Z staples, to the more unusual and exciting new introductions. The nursery is split over two sites, which offer protected and outside growing areas, producing over 1500 different varieties resulting in over 1 million plants a year being grown per season.
After this apprenticeship
- The business is looking for somebody who wants to develop and gain a full time position within the business
- We are always looking to keep upskilling our workforce and in the future there will be openings for more senior positions
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CITY COLLEGE NORWICH
City College Norwich (Apprenticeships)
apprenticeships@ccn.ac.uk
01603773365
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320516.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Saturday 14 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
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