Apprenticeships in Crop Technician

This apprenticeship is designed for employees in fruit and vegetable growing enterprises (soil based, container based or hydroponics based) or in an ornamental plant nursery based role. This could be a market garden, a large field production of vegetables or a container based ornamental plant nursery. The apprenticeship covers the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to become a professional grower.

As a Crop Technician/Arable 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 to date with technological advances and new innovations. This role requires self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and as a team player to complete tasks safely and efficiently. Many companies now use automation for a number of routine tasks, which will require technical skills to operate. This standard provides the opportunity for individuals to acquire the ‘knowledge’, ‘skills’ and ‘behaviours’ required and follows a ‘core and options’ approach. This allows the flexibility to learn core subjects and then specialise in either ‘soil based system’ or ‘containerised systems’. The pathway will be chosen depending on the nature of the organisation you are working in.

Level

Level 3

Duration of the course

24 months

What qualifications will the apprentice gain?

• Apprenticeship Certificate (Crop Technician Level 3)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)

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 environment 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

Entry Requirements

Employer/Workplace Requirement

• Market garden, vegetable and/or fruit farm/ornamental plant nursery
• Minimum machinery requirement: small powered machines, tractor powered machinery
• You workplace 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
• Pre enrolment maths and English assessment
• Pre enrolment job role suitability assessment

Delivery model

This apprenticeship will be conducted through practical training in your workplace and lecturers through college. You will be invited to attend 2 blocks of five days (Monday – Friday) per year for on site practical training at Reaseheath College in our vertical farm and glass house, sustainability training, possible field trips and learner inclusivity.

Assessment Breakdown

The apprenticeship is assessed in an End Point Assessment which includes:

• Knowledge test
• Practical test
• Professional discussion
• Knowledge Test: assessed by an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), this test will consist of multiple-choice questions on a computer-based platform. Provisions can be made for paper-based assessments to be made available if reasonable adjustments require this.
• Skills Test: assessed over 1 day by an Independent End Point Assessor (IEPA), this assessment will holistically assess skills, knowledge and behaviours acquired throughout the apprenticeship.
• Oral Questioning: assessed by an IEPA following the skills test, to confirm the learners understanding and to obtain further evidence of knowledge. It will extend and amplify the ability demonstrated in the Skills Test.

Career Progression

On completion of this apprenticeship, Crop technicians will have the opportunity to progress within the industry into roles such as unit/arable manager, production manager, farm manager.