Level 4 Assistant Farm Manager Apprenticeship
Course Details
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Department
Agriculture -
Qualification
Level 4 -
Length
2 Years -
Location(s)
York
Course at a glance
As an Assistant Farm Manager you will work in one of the sectors dairy, sheep, beef, pigs, goats, poultry or arable field-based vegetable or energy crops. An Assistant Farm Manager may work in any size farm business as employed labour or family member, whose intention will be to progress (through succession planning) to farm management either employed or running their own business, in the future. Titles in this job sector vary and it would be appropriate to a range of farm or horticultural site management positions.
Entry Requirements
GCSEs
As a minimum requirement, all Apprentices are expected to have achieved Functional Skills level 2 or equivalent.
Cost for students aged Under 19
Free
for students over the age of 19 please contact us
Course summary
This job role involves ensuring. In their daily work, an employee interacts with and reports to the farm manager or general manager and collaborates with staff and external customers from deliveries of supplies, auditors, and private consumers (depending on the business). They will also deal directly with agronomists, vets, nutritionists, consultants, machinery engineers and sales personnel. They may interact and negotiate with suppliers.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the following…
- Organising their own work schedule and any staff they line manage.
- Work with the farm manager or owner on the physical and financial performance of the enterprise.
- Utilise technology and associated data management to improve enterprise performance.
- Implement and review risk assessments, COSHH assessments and accident reporting/monitoring in line with the farm’s Health and Safety Policy and relevant H&S legislation.
- Manage day-to-day efficiency of energy utilisation, pollution prevention, waste minimisation and greenhouse gas (GHG reductions) in line with the farm’s environmental policy and environmental legislation.
- Manage the compliance of supply chain contracts / market requirements, farm assurance schemes, relevant codes of practice and relevant farm enterprise legislation.
- Organise routine maintenance of farm machinery, buildings, field drainage and field boundaries.
- Be a good communicator and use teamwork skills, demonstrate a professional approach to work.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to professionally operate and support the management of an agricultural or horticultural business such as a farm. If you like to be constantly challenged and to work in varied environments, then a career in this industry may suit you.
Key Information
Through your daily work with your employer and your training sessions with the college, you will learn the requirements of the Level 4 Assistant Farm Manager role.
On successful completion of the training period, you will move through End Point Assessment Gateway and be in a position to undertake the assessments required in order to achieve your apprenticeship.
The End Point Assessment will start once the employer is satisfied that you are consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard, the pre-requisite gateway requirements have been met and that they can be evidenced to an End Point Assessment Organisation.
The End Point Assessor will be an independent person, who will judge the quality of your work. All work in college and at work, will leads towards preparation for assessment and your future career.
For this apprenticeship the End Point Assessment will include:
- Project with business case
- You will complete a project and write a business case. The business case will be a maximum of 2500 words.
- You will have 6 weeks to complete the project and submit the business case to the EPAO.
- You will have a question and answer session with an independent assessor to discuss the project. It will last 30 minutes. They will ask at least 6 questions.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
- You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 75 minutes. They will ask you at least 15 questions.
Farm or horticultural site walk underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
- You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 90 minutes. They will ask you at least 15 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation.
The apprenticeship will be graded Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction.
The duration of the apprenticeship is based on a skills analysis and the development opportunities within the business.
The maximum duration for this apprenticeship training period is 24 months with up to a further 5 months to undertake the End Point Assessment.
Individual employers will set their own selection criteria.
As a minimum requirement, all Apprentices are expected to have achieved Functional Skills level 2 or equivalent.
Employers pay for apprenticeship training, where fees are applicable. We will discuss this with your employer when we complete a set-up with them.
The fees charged for the apprenticeship include any awarding body registration costs, all on-programme teaching, assessment and support delivered by the college, support materials, access to college facilities such as the Learning Resource Centre, Student Moodle, and access to wider college student support services where required.
There may be additional costs to the employer, should there be any need to re sit end point assessments.
Employers must pay apprentices at least the minimum rate set out by current National Minimum Wage Legislation. This includes payment for all off-job learning and any associated costs such as travel and accommodation.
Click here to find more information about the National Minimum Wage.
Employer involvement
Your employer must enable you to spend a minimum of 20% of your usual work hours undertaking off-job learning. This is defined as learning which is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of the apprenticeship.
This can include training that is delivered at your normal place of work but must not be delivered as part of your normal working duties, and must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard.
Off-job learning could include the following:
- Teaching of theory such as lectures, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning or manufacturer training
- Practical training such as shadowing experienced staff or mentoring, industry visits and attendance at competitions
- Study support and time spent writing assessments/assignments
Your employer must commit to supporting you in the workplace, participating in progress review meetings, providing use of ICT facilities so you can access your e-portfolio and agreeing/ensuring your readiness for the End Point Assessment.
They may be required to provide further supporting evidence/endorsements about your performance, which form part of the End Point Assessment.
Further details of the End Point Assessment will be made available to you during your induction.
College input
We will support you through regular Apprenticeship Progress Review meetings with you and your manager, provide well planned vocational training and theory delivery by block release model and support your theory learning in the workplace with a range of learning materials.
This programme is delivered at our York Campus on block-release.
How to apply
Applications should be made using the college application form or via the college website.
Please, check out our form to apply.
Upon receipt of your application you will have an interview with the Course Manager
Further information
Further information is available:
Further information about the industry:
Or, for more information, contact the Apprenticeship Admin team on:
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York Campus
York is one of the College's two residential campuses and is located just four miles from York city centre. At York we offer a full range of subject areas and levels including Apprenticeships, Level 1-3 Diplomas, Foundation, Top Up and BSc Honours Degrees.
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