Give your feedback on the Crop Technician apprenticeship standard

The level 3 apprenticeship, available through colleges for more than five years, has been reviewed by the Agriculture and Horticulture Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group to assess its suitability for a cross-section of businesses.

Download the draft form of the new standard.

Leading the development of new apprenticeship standards

The Trailblazer group comprises farmers, producers, and other stakeholders responsible for developing agricultural apprenticeships in England, and is chaired by TIAH board member Richard Longthorp. But we now need a wider representation to comment on the standard.

This apprenticeship is designed for people looking to develop as technicians in the arable and horticultural sectors.

The training covers the key stages of sowing seeds, germination, growth, harvest and post-harvest operations. The standard also focuses on best practice for maintaining and improving the surrounding environment.

You can help prepare the next generation of growers

With Trailblazer standards, the aim is to ensure the apprentice becomes a fully competent employee by the time they qualify, which typically takes 18 months.

Example roles for a qualified apprentice include:

• Cereals technician
• Agriculture technician (arable)
• Horticultural operative
• Arable technician
• Arable operator

The group are seeking opinion of a broad range of employers through a quick online survey, which is open until 7 October 2024.

If you would like any further information, please email Sarah Koppen.

Download the draft form of the new standard.