Livestock Unit Technician Apprentice

Summary

Bicton College 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

£22,492.04 a year

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Training course

Livestock unit technician (level 3)

Hours

Shifts scheduled Sunday to Monday, to include early and late shifts as required. Start and Finish times to be confirmed and discussed during the application process.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 13 October 2025

Duration

1 year 9 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

Duties to include but are not limited to:

Assist with daily care and welfare of a range of livestock – including feeding, bedding, checking health, and maintaining records
Participate in milking routines and associated tasks such as parlour hygiene and milk recording
Support lambing, calving, and pig and poultry management during relevant seasons
Maintain high standards of biosecurity, cleanliness, and animal welfare across all enterprises
Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment
Work flexibly as part of a rota, including early mornings, evenings and weekends where required
Contribute to a safe, inclusive and learning-focused farm environment

Where you'll work

Bicton College
East Budleigh
Salterton
EX9 7BY

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.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

Agriculture (grade Pass)

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
Problem solving skills
Team working
Initiative
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

Please consider the entry requirements before applying and that college / work is in a rural location.

About this company

Bicton College Farm is offering an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team as a Level 3 Livestock Technician Apprentice. Based on our working educational farm, this role combines hands-on practical experience across a variety of livestock enterprises with formal training delivered through the Level 3 Livestock Unit Technician apprenticeship programme. Working alongside experienced farm staff and supporting the education of future agricultural professionals, you will gain a broad and valuable skill set in livestock husbandry, health and welfare, and farm operations across dairy, beef, sheep, pigs and poultry. Our farm predominantly works on a low input grass based system.

https://bicton.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

You may wish to continue your studies in Higher Education.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: