Level 3 Livestock Technician Apprenticeship - Sandyke Farm
JAMES BARTLETT, JANINNE BARTLETT & MARGARET BARTLETT
Barnstaple (EX32 0QZ)
Closes in 21 days (Friday 13 February 2026)
Posted on 22 January 2026
Contents
Summary
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to grow your career in farming. We are looking for candidates who wish to grow their career in agriculture as there are opportunities for permanent employment. Each day may bring new challenges and opportunities, including dealing with the British weather!
- Wage
-
£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Livestock unit technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Rota to be confirmed
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 16 February 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 3 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
The main duties will include but are not limited to:
- Being part of the daily milking rota
- Involved with rearing young stock
- Assist with the grazing management
- Tractor work - scraping out, feeding up
- Fence management
- Livestock Handling and husbandry (Dairy Cows & Young Stock)
- Milking Cows
- Grassland Management – Grazing, Silage
- General Farm work and Maintenance
- Maintaining machinery, property, hedges and fences
What will your bring to the role?
- Communication skills
- Enthusiasm
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
- Reliable
- Able to prioritise work load
- Farming experience (desirable)
- Strong work ethic
- The ability to get up and get motivated early in a morning!
The pay rate for this role is the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices, currently £7.55 per hour.
Where you'll work
Sandyke Farm
Barnstaple
EX32 0QZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SKERN LODGE LIMITED
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
Training schedule
You will be supported by an assessor throughout your apprenticeship.
As you progress through your apprenticeship your duties and responsibilities will alter as you develop the skills for a successful career in agriculture.
Training will be a mix of face to face and online learning.
You will gain a Livestock Technician Level 3 qualification with further opportunities for training, development and permanent employment upon completion.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
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
- Team working
- Logical
- Physical fitness
- Attention to detail
- Initiative
Other requirements
Interview will be via 1 day work trial. Driving would be an advantage as early and late shift patterns. Please ensure you research the location and transport access prior to applying. This is a physical job within a small team. Activities are carried outside and inside in all weathers. 40 hours per week working on a rota.
About this employer
James Bartlett is a fifth-generation family farmer at Sandyke Farm, Barnstable, Devon. He manages a summer calving herd of 200 cows.
After this apprenticeship
You will gain a Livestock Technician Level 3 qualification with further opportunities for training, development and permanent employment upon completion.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SKERN LODGE LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000010282.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Friday 13 February 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.