Crop Technician (Soil Based Production Horticulture)

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
• For more information on the skills, knowledge and behaviours associated and learnt on this apprenticeship, please download the file attached to this link: Crop Technician Soil-based Production Horticulture Level 3

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)

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

The entry requirements for all Level 3 programmes, will require either: 

• GCSE 3 or above in English (either Literature or Language) and Maths
• GCSE D or above in English (either Literature or Language) and Maths
• Level1 Functional Skills English and Maths (or equivalent qualification|) at this level or Level 2

Should you not meet the entry requirements for English and Maths, please get in contact with us. We are aware that there are many factors that may have affected your previous education and grades, so will consider these in support of the application on an individual basis.

In addition to your prior English and Maths qualifications, you will complete an initial assessment for English and Maths as part of your pre-boarding session in college. This assessment will give us a current working level grade and will indicate which level Functional Skills you will be enrolled on if you have not got a GCSE 4/C or above in English and Maths. We may contact you to discuss this grade if we have any concerns.

If you have a grade 4/C or above in GCSE English and/or Maths, you will not be required to attend Functional Skills English and/or Maths sessions as part of your Apprenticeship.

Please note: You will be required to produce your GCSE certificates BEFORE you start your course to be exempt from attending Functional Skills English and Maths sessions.

To enrol onto an apprenticeship programme you need to be employed with a contract of employment. If you have an employer lined up or are already employed please contact our Business Services team on 01273 892127 or via email.

You must be in a role that will allow you the opportunity to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship. You also need to be employed with a contract of employment for a minimum duration of the length of the apprenticeship. Additionally, apprentices must have a working level of maths and English that will allow successful achievement of level 1 functional skill prior to the end point assessment.

If you do not currently have an employer please visit the main Apprenticeships page for guidance on how to find and apply for an apprenticeship opportunity or register for our Talent Bank service.

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.