Career Suggestion

Agricultural contractor

Agricultural contractors provide services to farmers, like crop planting and spraying, harvesting and animal management.

Average salary (a year)

£0.0 to £0.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

44.0 to 50.0 seasonal

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

College

You could take a course at an agricultural college, which may be useful when you start looking for work.

Courses include:

  • land based studies and technology
  • agriculture
  • T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for agricultural colleges|https://nlbc.uk/partners/members/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, for example:

  • General Farm Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Land Based Service Engineer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Livestock Unit Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Land Based Service Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Direct Application

You could apply directly to become an agricultural contractor. Employers will expect you to have experience of working on a farm and operating agricultural machinery.

More Information

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could join the National Association of Agricultural Contractors for industry training and professional development.

Further Information

You can find out more about working and training in agriculture from Tasty Careers and The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture .

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of food production methods
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • customer service skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • persistence and determination
  • the ability to motivate and manage staff
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

Driving vehicles like lorries, tractors, harvesters and fork lift trucks can be part of your work. You can find out more about driving specialist vehicles from GOV.UK .

Day-to-day tasks

As an agricultural contractor, you could:

  • process, mill and plant seeds
  • spray and fertilise crops
  • harvest and bale crops
  • help with animal husbandry, like breeding calves and lambing
  • repair and maintain fences, hedges and dry stone walls
  • service agricultural machinery
  • carry out excavation or drainage work

Working environment

You could work on a farm.

Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.

With experience, you could specialise in offering particular services, like crop management.

You could also work for private companies or co-operatives that offer management services to farms.

Related careers

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