Vineyard Operative Apprenticeship
KINGSTHORNE LIMITED
Newnham (GL14 1JR)
Closes in 13 days (Monday 15 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 1 September 2025
Contents
Summary
We are looking for an apprentice to join Kingsthorne’s vineyard team in Gloucestershire, working across two sites (10 hectares) on a 140-acre estate near the River Severn. You would be part of an award-winning wine producer with exciting plans for a new winery and tourism offering. A hands-on opportunity in a growing and ambitious environment.
- Wage
-
£17,667 to £28,571.40, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Crop technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 07:30 - 16:30. One hour for lunch. Very occasional work outside of these hours.
45 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 22 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 duties will vary, and tasks will vary between seasons but will include:
- Pruning
- Trellis maintanence
- Tractor based work (spraying, mowing, vine trimming)
- Tucking in
- Harvesting
- Estate management
Where you'll work
Home Farm House
Flaxley
Newnham
GL14 1JR
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
Crop Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:
- 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 day a week, with class sessions over 5 separate weeks
- The course with be conducted at Plumpton College
Requirements
Essential 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
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Our vineyard is located in a rural location, so having your own transport is highly recommended.
About this employer
Established in 2019, Kingsthorne is a premium wine estate located in Gloucestershire, set within a stunning 140-acre property beside the historic Flaxley Abbey in the Royal Forest of Dean. With 34 acres of vineyard, the estate specialises in sparkling wine varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, while embracing innovation in both vineyard and winery practices. In addition to producing award-winning sparkling and still wines, Kingsthorne also crafts cider from estate-grown and local apples, and honey from its own hives. Future developments include a visitor centre, tasting room, shop, and restaurant, enhancing its offering as a destination for wine tourism.
Company benefits
We offer private healthcare, above average company pension contribution alongside various events and social activities for staff.
After this apprenticeship
- To become a full time, permanent member of our viticulture team
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PLUMPTON COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000339769.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Monday 15 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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