- Course Dates
- 3 February 2025 - 2 February 2027
- Duration
Typically 22 months (some apprentices could complete sooner depending on their previous experience and qualifications, their performance during the apprenticeship and the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in the workplace) practical period with 3-month End Point Assessment window.
- Location
- Plumpton College
Course Overview
The apprenticeship is designed for employees in fruit and vegetable growing enterprises. Be it a market garden or large field production of vegetables, the apprenticeship covers the knowledge and skills needed to become a professional grower.
As a Crop Technician, you will be responsible for optimising crop/plant yields through establishment, management, harvest and post-harvest operations while maintaining and improving the surrounding environment. You will also need to keep up with technological advances and innovations. Being a Crop Technician requires self-motivation and the ability to work independently and as a team player to complete tasks safely and efficiently.
What apprentices will learn
- Prepare seed bed/growing medium for maximum growth potential
- Carry out relevant establishment of crops for efficient growth
- Maintaining and operating machinery
- Preparing growing mediums for maximum yield
- Controlling pests, weeds, and diseases
- Principles of plant growth and development and plant health
- Environmental issues/legislation, codes of practice
- Carry out plant nutrient application e.g composted farm yard manure
- Irrigation tasks to aid growth of crop
- Harvesting techniques
- Harvesting operations including assessment of timing and quality
- Relationship between environmental conditions, plant protection methods and crop growth
- Keeping accurate records
- Health, safety and security
- Input costs, costs of production, margins and impact on business profitability
- Marketing to customers
Delivery Model
Monthly block of four days (Monday - Thursday) of practical training at Plumpton College during Autumn. Winter and Spring with workplace observations and online theory workshops during the Summer months.
Qualifications Gained
- Apprenticeship Certificate (Crop Technician Level 3: Soil-based system)
- Level 3 Emergency First Aid
- Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides (PA1)
- PA2 (Boom Sprayer) OR PA6 (Hand Held Applicators)
- Level 2 in Maths and English (if applicable)
Entry Requirements
Employer/Workplace Requirement
- Market garden of minimum 5 acres / 2 hectares
- Minimum machinery requirement: small-powered machines, tractor-powered machinery
- Garden does not have to be organically certified
Candidate Requirement
There are no previous qualifications required to start this apprenticeship, but apprentices must have the attitude and ability to develop the required skills and knowledge during the apprenticeship. Additionally, if unable to provide the necessary evidence an apprentice will be required to complete Functional Skills in maths and English to level 2 standard (equivalent to GCSE grade 4/c) prior to completing their apprenticeship.
- Pre enrolment maths and English assessment
- Pre enrolment job role suitability assessment
To enrol on an apprenticeship programme, you need to be employed with a contract of employment for a minimum duration of the length of the apprenticeship. If you have an employer lined up or are already employed, please contact our Business Team on 01273 892127 or business@plumpton.ac.uk.
If you are an employer and would like to recruit or enrol an existing employee onto an apprenticeship please contact our Business Services team on 01273 892127 or via email.
