Apprentice Farm Worker
WILTSHIRE COLLEGE
Chippenham (SN15 2NY)
Closes in 14 days (Thursday 19 February 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 5 February 2026
Contents
Summary
This role is around the development of Dairy production, Robotics, and conventional milking and to assist with the running of the high-performance herd. In addition, assist with other areas of the farming
activities to gain wider experience with other livestock, arable and machinery.
- Wage
-
£15,149 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Your hourly rate of pay will increase within your second year of apprenticeship from the national apprenticeship wage to the national minimum wage for your age group.
- Training course
- General farm worker (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday, 08.30 to 17.00, with an hour unpaid lunch break each day. Friday, 08.30 to 16.30, with an hour unpaid lunch break. One day will be college study day release.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 16 March 2026
- 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
- Support the day to day running of the College Farm
- Assist with the Livestock care, including learn how to milk and feed
- Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment (with training)
Where you'll work
Lackham Campus
Lacock
Chippenham
SN15 2NY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
WILTSHIRE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE
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
The Apprentice would attend College one day per week (at Lackham campus) and be based on the job the rest of the week.
The Apprentice would have an Assessor who would visit them on the job and a Lecturer for the day release.
Requirements
Desirable 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
- Logical
- Adaptable
- Positive manner
Other requirements
Experience of group working and enthusiasm for the agricultural industry.
About this employer
Set in 500 acres of Wiltshire countryside, Lackham is the College’s specialist campus for study in the land-based and business sectors.
With an incredible range of resources and having recently undergone a £9million redevelopment, Lackham is the home of award-winning vocational teaching in the land-based industries.
Lackham also features the Wiltshire Business School, which opened in 2024. This modern business centre in the heart of rural Wiltshire boasts modern teaching and conferencing facilities within the grand setting of a Georgian manor house.
https://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Local Pension Scheme
- 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and 2 weeks paid leave at Christmas
- Free onsite gyms
- Free Parking
- Lifestyle discounts
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
- Potential progression opportunities.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WILTSHIRE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000013315.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Thursday 19 February 2026 at 11:59pm)