Crop Technician (Market Garden)

Level 3 Apprenticeship

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)

Course details

Dates & Location	Next cohort enrolment in August/September 2023 with commencement of in college delivery from September 2023
Duration	Typically 22 months (some apprentices could complete sooner depending on their previous experience and qualifications, their perfomance during the apprenticeship and the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in the workplace) practical period with 3-month End Point Assessment window.
Costs	Costs will be dependent on several factors such as age of apprentice and size of employer. Please contact our Business Services team on 01273 892127 for more information.

Dates & Location

Next cohort enrolment in August/September 2023 with commencement of in college delivery from September 2023

Duration

Typically 22 months (some apprentices could complete sooner depending on their previous experience and qualifications, their perfomance during the apprenticeship and the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in the workplace) practical period with 3-month End Point Assessment window.

Costs

Costs will be dependent on several factors such as age of apprentice and size of employer. Please contact our Business Services team on 01273 892127 for more information.

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.

Facilities

Apprentices will have practical workshops at Plumpton College, with access to the college's commercial farm consisting of 2000 acres in the most beautiful setting of the South Downs.
Teaching staff are passionate about sustainable and local food systems and have been growing vegetables organically and biodynamically for 20 years. With the Apprenticeship Programme Manager previouslythe farm director and garden manager at Old Plawhatch farm in Sussex.
Apprentices receive discounts on accredited qualifications offered by LandPro Training

Future Opportunities

Future Opportunities

Employment/ self-employed - a grower in a fruit and vegetable growing enterprise
Farm or Garden Manager
Academic degree: Horticulture Management or similar