Vineyard Assistant Apprentice
HAM STREET WINES LIMITED
Ashford (TN26 2JT)
Closes in 19 days (Sunday 29 March 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 4 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Join Ham Street Wines, one of only a handful of certified Biodynamic vineyards in the UK, and gain hands-on experience in regenerative viticulture, natural winemaking and sustainable land management in the heart of Kent.
- Wage
-
£11,778 to £19,047.60, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Crop technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, with flexibility required around key vineyard tasks. Typical working day is 8 hours excluding breaks. Some early starts or late finishes may be needed during critical periods, such as harvest.
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 20 April 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
The apprentice will support all key vineyard and winery activities throughout the growing season and harvest. Tasks will include:
- Moving and adjusting wires
- Tucking vines into trellising
- Green pruning
- Leaf stripping
- Green harvesting
- Vine and soil sampling
- Hedging and topping of vines
- Placing and topping up pest traps (wasps, SWD)
- Mulching around vines and orchard area with compost and woodchip
- Strimming
- Harvesting grapes by hand
- Processing grapes in the winery (loading press, destemming, cleaning equipment)
The apprentice will also support tours, tastings and winery operations during harvest, and will learn biodynamic preparations, sap analysis and digital vineyard management platforms.
Where you'll work
Ham Street Vineyard
Warehorne Road
Ashford
TN26 2JT
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
- The apprentice will be taught in-person at Plumpton College via block release
- This will be one week (five days) every two months during term time
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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Resiliance
- Willingness to learn
Other requirements
A genuine interest in horticulture, agriculture, biology or environmental science is desirable. Any prior experience in outdoor or manual work is an advantage. Additionally, being comfortable working outside all year in various weather is crucial, and having a driving license is required due to duties on the vineyard.
About this employer
Ham Street Wines is one of only a handful of certified Biodynamic vineyards in the UK. Established in 2019 with over 16,000 vines across 10 acres, growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Bacchus and Pinot Gris on the edge of the Romney Marsh. The vineyard follows regenerative and nature-positive principles, with a winery facility on site producing natural wines with minimal intervention
https://hamstreetwines.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Expenses paid for fuel and subsistence when attending off-site events.
After this apprenticeship
Following successful completion of the apprenticeship there is potential to progress to a full-time Vineyard Manager or Assistant Vineyard Manager role at Ham Street Wines, or to pursue further qualifications in viticulture, winemaking or land management.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PLUMPTON COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019063.
Apply now
Closes in 19 days (Sunday 29 March 2026 at 11:59pm)