Vineyard Apprentice

NEWICK WINE ESTATE LIMITED

LEWES (BN8 4JZ)

Closes in 25 days (Sunday 31 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 5 August 2025

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Summary

We are offering an opportunity to gain knowledge in a vineyard with the former Manager of the Apprenticeship at Plumpton College. The Vineyard is early in its lifecycle, thus a small team, so there is an opportunity to have access to all aspects of the business, especially early establishment with the opportunity to grow with it post-apprenticeship.

Wage

£16,881.80 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)

National Living Wage in the second year of the apprenticeship.

Training course
Crop technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 16:30, Weekend and night work might be required during frost, spraying and harvest seasons.

42 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

Duration

2 years

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

Day to day tasks will vary, but will include: 

  • Tractor work - vineyard specific tractor tasks

  • Regular scouting for pests and diseases

  • Canopy Work - manual work specific to the vineyard

  • Estate Work - general work to maintain estate

Where you'll work

48 CHURCH ROAD
NEWICK
LEWES
BN8 4JZ

Training

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

Training provider

PLUMPTON COLLEGE

Training course

Crop technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
  • Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
  • Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
  • Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
  • Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management.  (Core)
  • Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
  • Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
  • Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
  • Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
  • Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
  • Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
  • Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
  • Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
  • Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
  • Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
  • Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
  • Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
  • Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)
  • Set and monitor machinery performance to ensure good seed or plant establishment and crop growth. (Soil based)
  • Set machinery and equipment taking into account the crop, environment, soil condition and specification requirements. (Soil based)
  • Maintain non-productive areas. (Soil based)
  • Assess the impact of machinery on soil structure and identify potential damage in accordance with legislation. (Soil based)
  • Optimise growth conditions for crops, based on the specific needs of the plant relative to the environment. (Container based)
  • Maintain productive and non-productive areas. (Container based)
  • Plan for and carry out the removal of waste materials following harvest or dispatch. (Container based)
  • Evaluate and select different growing mediums taking into account site conditions and production requirements. (Container based)
  • Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
  • Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
  • Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
  • Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
  • Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management.  (Core)
  • Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
  • Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
  • Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
  • Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
  • Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
  • Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
  • Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
  • Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
  • Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
  • Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
  • Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
  • Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
  • Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)

Training schedule

Training will occur in 10 weekly blocks of teaching split between the Plumpton College main campus and the College’s Rock Lodge Vineyard.
The block attended shall be for a full 5 days a week, with class sessions over 5 separate weeks.
The course with be conducted at Plumpton College.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • IT skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Logical
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

Experience driving tractors.

About this employer

Vineyard/Wine Estate planted in 2023, 8 hectares under vine, with a further 10 hectares on the site. First vintage this year, with cellar door will be opening shortly to support sales of our wine.

Company benefits

Free parking.

After this apprenticeship

The potential to progress to an Assistant Farm Manager.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PLUMPTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000335514.

Apply now

Closes in 25 days (Sunday 31 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

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