Animal Care and Horticulture Apprentice

Woodpecker Court Ltd

KENT (CT15 4BF)

Closes in 9 days (Monday 16 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 2 June 2025


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

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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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

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 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

  • 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.

College or training organisation

KEITS TRAINING SERVICES LTD

Your training course

Animal care and welfare assistant (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

Your training plan

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 or equivalent in:

English & Maths (grade Level 1)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship 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 company

Woodpecker Court is an alternative education provider with specialist post 16 status set in a rural location. Every student is different and treated as an individual and therefore vary our practices to support them holistically. We aim to improve outcomes by providing all of our students with the necessary skills to equip them to sustain their onward destination after leaving us. We have a calm, safe and friendly environment that are our animals are a key part of. We request that alongside this application you must also apply directly to Personnel via the email address personnel@woodpeckercourt.com attaching a copy of your CV.

http://www.woodpeckercourt.co.uk (opens in new tab)

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 VAC1000323713.

Apply now

Closes in 9 days (Monday 16 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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