Animal Care and Horticulture Apprentice
Woodpecker Court Ltd
KENT (CT15 4BF)
Closes in 13 days (Friday 3 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Woodpecker Court has a Community Farm with a range of animals, the role of the applicant would be to work within the stringent animal welfare and licensing regulations to ensure the best quality care. It operates across several sites with animals on them all. This position will require weekend and evening work as the needs of the animals dictate.
- Wage
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£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Animal care and welfare assistant (level 2)
- Hours
-
Expected Duration: 12 -18 months with a minimum of 12 months.
Working week: 40 hours a week on a shift pattern, 8 hours a day. This will include weekends and anti-social hours.
40 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 1 June 2026
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
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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
- Prepare and feed animals as required.
- Support with meeting the welfare needs of the animals.
- Record keeping and excellent communication with other staff ensuring a quality service for all users.
- This will be undertaken by working 40 hours a week over 5 days, this is generally on 8 hour shifts. There will be times when this work is unsociable to meet the needs of the animals and to support with the lambing season.
- This is a physical role and applicants must be prepared to lift and carry heavy objects with support if required following appropriate training.
- Support with horticulture tasks.
- Occasional student support with animals.
Where you'll work
WIGMORE LANE
EYTHORNE
KENT
CT15 4BF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
KEITS TRAINING SERVICES LTD
Training course
Animal care and welfare assistant (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
Training schedule
In a 40 hour working week you will undertake at least 8 hours of training, this may be directly related to your course but may be in another specific area such as Health and Safety, Safeguarding or COSHH. You will be supported to manage your time appropriately.
There will be online sessions and face to face practicals as you work towards your Level 2 Animal care and welfare assistant qualifcation. Students will need to have at least achieved Level 1 Functional Skills maths and English and be working towards level 2.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE 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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
This position involves a significant amount of physical work.
About this employer
Woodpecker Court is an alternative education provider with specialist post 16 status set in a rural location. Within the educational provision and alongside our sister company Woodpecker Wood CIC we run a community cafe which is accessed by our students alongside members of the community. It is also used as a space for community projects.
After this apprenticeship
To be able to progress on to a level 3 apprenticeship or work within the animal care and welfare sector.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Woodpecker Court Ltd
Dawn Fisher
personnel@woodpeckercourt.com
01304 830958
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022215.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Friday 3 April 2026 at 11:59pm)