Apprentice Farm Worker
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
West Bromwich (B71 3SZ)
Closes in 28 days (Friday 12 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 15 August 2025
Contents
Summary
This post will assist in providing and maintaining the operation of two farms and their associated visitor centres, at Forge Mill Farm and Sandwell Park Farm - part of the Sandwell Valley Estate.
- Wage
-
£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- General farm worker (level 2)
- Hours
-
Between 7.00am & 4.00pm. 5 days out of 7 on a rota system - to include some evenings (for special events), bank holidays and weekends.
This is a 7 day service, as the animals must still be cared for every day, whatever the weather.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Saturday 1 November 2025
- Duration
-
1 year
- 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
- Assisting in the care and welfare of farm livestock and small animals, including grooming, feeding and mucking out.
- To interact with visitors, lead demonstrations and take part in discussions, animal activities and group tours.
- To assist with seasonal activities and events, including lambing, sheep shearing, pumpkin picking, sunflowers event, and other large-scale events held at Forge Mill Farm and Sandwell Park Farm.
- Help to maintain farmland and farm yard areas within the Sandwell Valley locality.
- Help staff to carry out their duties and ensure the safety and security of the farm building and its equipment.
- Assist with the engagement and supervision of college students and school groups that visit the farms.
Where you'll work
Forge Mill Farm
Forge Lane
West Bromwich
B71 3SZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
HEREFORDSHIRE, LUDLOW, AND NORTH SHROPSHIRE COLLEGE
Training course
General farm worker (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Identify hazards and risks in the workplace, prepare risk assessments and demonstrate high level of health and safety awareness at all times.
- Maintain the correct hygiene and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with relevant legal requirements
- Check that animal welfare needs related to their environment and housing are maintained, including manure management, ensuring the suitability of indoor and outdoor environment and bedding up of animals
- Assist with safe restraint, moving and handling of livestock.
- Legally operate a farm vehicle and each attachment according to health and safety requirements. For example, tractors and ATVs along with other vehicles integral to the business.
- Demonstrate good environmental practice in the workplace, in accordance with environmental assessment plans and associated legal requirements
- Assist with post-harvest activities to meet crop and forage specifications, in a safe and environmentally acceptable way
- Carry out maintenance of farm infrastructure (including housing for livestock, boundaries and electric or non-electric fences), machinery and equipment, as instructed
- Complete manual and electronic records in accordance with legislation and the business processes.
- Monitor and maintain health & welfare of livestock and assist with treatments when appropriate.
- Monitor the quantity and quality of grass and forage crops and report findings to appropriate person.
- Provide feed and water to livestock as instructed and report any issues to appropriate person
- Assist with caring for livestock during the reproductive cycle, from service to weaning. For example, identify signs of heat.
- Produce products for sale from the business (for example, milking, shearing, lambing, harvesting)
- Assist with the preparation of the ground, including identification of soil condition through soil sampling and preparing crop for planting
- Load, unload and complete paperwork for transportation of resources manually and using loading equipment, according to instruction
- Monitor the growth and development of crops in line with customer specification, as instructed
- Identify hazards and risks in the workplace, prepare risk assessments and demonstrate high level of health and safety awareness at all times.
- Maintain the correct hygiene and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with relevant legal requirements
- Check that animal welfare needs related to their environment and housing are maintained, including manure management, ensuring the suitability of indoor and outdoor environment and bedding up of animals
- Assist with safe restraint, moving and handling of livestock.
- Legally operate a farm vehicle and each attachment according to health and safety requirements. For example, tractors and ATVs along with other vehicles integral to the business.
- Demonstrate good environmental practice in the workplace, in accordance with environmental assessment plans and associated legal requirements
- Assist with post-harvest activities to meet crop and forage specifications, in a safe and environmentally acceptable way
- Carry out maintenance of farm infrastructure (including housing for livestock, boundaries and electric or non-electric fences), machinery and equipment, as instructed
- Complete manual and electronic records in accordance with legislation and the business processes.
Training schedule
- At the end, you will gain a Level 2 General Farm Worker qualification. This will include any Functional Skills as appropriate.
- The apprenticeship training will be delivered in the workplace, as you will receive visits from a college assessor.
- The apprenticeship will also include a proportion of 20% Off The Job Training and a robust programme of apprentice training provided by Sandwell Council to include Workplace Professionalism and Equality and Diversity.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English Language (grade 9-4/A-C)
- Maths (grade 9-3/A-D)
Other in:
- English (grade Level 2)
- Maths (grade Level 1)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Work in all weathers
- Interest in Animals
- Wear a uniform
- Follow instructions
- Friendly attitude
Other requirements
Proof of qualification certificates will be required during the recruitment process. This position will suit someone with an interest in working with animals and in an outdoor environment in all sorts of weather elements. *We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date, if we receive a large number of applications. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete and return your application as soon as possible*
About this employer
Sandwell is a large, multicultural metropolitan borough situated in the heart of the Black Country, to the west of Birmingham, within the West Midlands conurbation and with a population of over 280,000. The Council is one of the largest employers in the Borough with employees in a variety of occupations, providing a comprehensive range of services. For more information about Sandwell Council’s apprenticeship programme and our recruitment process please visit our YouTube channel. Find out more information on Sandwell’s Values and Behaviours on the council’s webpage. For more information on careers in local government you can view a copy of the Local Government Career Guide.
http://www.sandwell.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- This apprenticeship is a fixed-term 12-month contract. However, the skills, knowledge and experience gained in this apprenticeship will allow you to gain future opportunities in the sector.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
HEREFORDSHIRE, LUDLOW, AND NORTH SHROPSHIRE COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337425.
Apply now
Closes in 28 days (Friday 12 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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