Taking on a farm apprentice

Trailblazer Apprenticeships can be broken down into several stages:

• On-programme learning: 80% delivered on the farm, 20% delivered off the job by an approved apprentice provider.
• Gateway: The apprentice will reach the ‘gateway’ when they agree with their training provider and employer that they have completed – and passed, where appropriate – all on-programme learning.  At this point the provider will arrange the End Point Assessment
• End Point Assessment: The End Point Assessment (EPA) is the new way of assessing the apprentice. This new assessment can include anything that has been covered during the entire apprenticeship, ensuring the apprentice is fully competent when they pass. 

When supported correctly, an apprentice is a valued team member. Taking on an apprentice will require you to take time to help them develop as they learn and progress. Therefore, for you and your business to gain the most from the experience, there are some points to consider:

• What is a competitive apprenticeship salary or benefits package to attract the right person?
• How to describe the apprenticeship? Keep it simple and short
• What limitations might an apprentice have? Manage your own expectations – we were all beginners once!
• Why should the apprentice come and work for you? Why is your business a great place to work?
• Do you have a plan for them after the apprenticeship? Will they have opportunities for career progression to suit your business?
• Who else in the business can support and invest in the apprentice, other than yourself?

Once you have developed your own goals and vision using the above points, there is the administration side of the apprenticeship to take care of. However, it is worth noting that this is something with which your training provider might be able to assist.

We have created an apprenticeship checklist that should help to guide you through the process of getting set up, including what documentation needs to be in place before the apprentice starts. Once the apprentice is recruited, you can use the Skills Matrix for the apprenticeship (provided below) to identify the activities that must be completed and mark off the knowledge, skills and behaviours that the apprentice develops as they become competent.

There are several ways to find an apprentice:

• Option One: Identify a person within your business; if feasible, then this is a valuable route to invest in skills and training for staff development. It is worth noting that 20% of the apprenticeship will be classroom-based learning; therefore, work and time commitments are required. Once you have discussed with your employee (and they are on board!), you will need to find a suitable training provider (see “How does the relationship with the training provider work?”)
• Option Two: If you do not have a suitable employee available or would like additional resource into your business, then you can contact a training provider to ask if they have any students looking for an on-the-job apprenticeship. You can view training providers via this link: https://www.gov.uk/education/apprenticeships-traineeships-and-internships  

Employers must pay apprentices the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage for the first 12 months (https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide/pay-and-conditions) and the National Minimum Wage thereafter (https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates). However, we are aware that employers gain most benefit from paying the local ‘going’ rate. This should be a discussion between yourself and the apprentice when completing your checklist and will be stated in your apprentice contract.

If you are an Apprenticeship Levy-paying employer then you will pay your training provider through your online account.

The levy can be used for apprenticeship training and assessment (for apprentices who work at least 50% of their time in England).  You can’t use funds in your account to pay for other costs associated with your apprentice, such as wages, statutory licences to practise, travel and subsidiary costs, work placement programmes or establishing an apprenticeship programme.

If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy you will not have an apprenticeship account and therefore cannot negotiate rates of pay with training providers. You can choose which provider to use, but cannot refine the content of an apprenticeship because it’s an off-the-shelf package.

As a non-Apprenticeship Levy payer, you will pay 5% of the costs of the apprenticeship directly to the training provider – unless your business employs fewer than 50 people and the apprentice is aged 16–18, in which case the Government funds 100% of training costs.

• If your business pays £3 million or more in salaries, then Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will automatically deduct a levy through the current Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. You will then be required to set up an account to manage the levy (i.e., spend the deducted money to reinvest into your business).
• If your business is not in the levy band as stated above, then you pay 10% towards the cost of an apprenticeship directly to the training provider.
• However, if your business employs fewer than 50 employees and your apprentices are aged 16–18 years old, then the Government funds 100% of the training costs for the apprenticeship.

Find out more about managing your apprenticeship funds

The Apprenticeship Levy and AHDB Levy are separate. The AHDB Levy is a statutory requirement for agriculture and horticulture businesses and is collected by the AHDB. The Apprenticeship Levy is applicable to all businesses with a paybill of £3 million or more (including temporary staff) and is collected directly by HMRC.

An apprentice can be someone who currently works in your business, or you may like to recruit someone new. Either way, 80% of learning is on-the-job learning from the employer, while the other 20% must be off-the-job learning that is delivered by an approved training provider. While it is possible for an employer to become an approved provider, this is a complicated process and would generally only be worthy of consideration for very large businesses with many apprentices.

There is a requirement for external independent bodies to provide the assessment and certification. (See section on assessment below)

As an employer, it is your decision as to which training provider you use, depending on your business requirements. Your training provider could be your local land based college, which is currently offering the apprenticeship with a group or, if you require a different, individual approach for your business, it might be a private training provider. Training providers are there to provide support and can help with:

• Identifying an apprentice if you do not already have someone suitable within your business
• Answering any questions a potential apprentice may have, if you are investing in a current staff member
• Getting your business ready for an apprentice, including informing you of any legal requirements (contracts, minimum pay, etc.)
• Providing support mechanisms that you may find useful throughout the process (checklists, templates, etc.)
• Providing options of learning styles to suit your apprentice, with reviews to ensure everyone is on track.

The Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education can help with finding training providers for a specified apprenticeship: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/

The learning on a Trailblazer Apprenticeship is split into three key areas: Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours. The assessment reflects these three areas and each one will be assessed individually.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours are monitored throughout the apprenticeship, with the training provider and employer completing a workbook or template to identify that the apprentice has reached the appropriate level of competence. There are three elements to assessment:

• Online testing: primarily evaluates the Knowledge element of the standard
• Practical observation: this on-farm assessment will assess the Skills identified in the standard
• Verbal assessment: a structured interview will assess whether the individual has adopted the required Behaviours

Any Trailblazer Apprenticeship has a minimum duration of 12 months, but some can take up to 30 months, depending on the course level, apprentice and employer. Each standard will provide a typical timeframe; for example, the Crop Technician Apprenticeship takes 18 months. The length of apprenticeship and your required commitment to support and mentor the apprentice should be considered at the start of the process. The more you put into an apprentice, the more you get out!

Only the certificates that are specifically listed on the standard will be fully included in the training delivery package.

While the Apprenticeship Development Group could not secure inclusion of full certificates for some important areas, such as safe vehicle use, the training required to achieve these certificates is included in the Knowledge and Skills elements of the standards. It is then the responsibility of the employer and their training provider to negotiate whether or not the certificate will be delivered as part of the training package.

While there are many ways to create an effective apprenticeship experience, employers commonly say that apprentices work well when the employer:

• Provides a supportive work environment
• Provides learning opportunities (on and off farm)
• Supports the development of standards so they remain relevant
• Challenges poor/unsuitable provision
• Manages, coaches and mentors

Gloucestershire-based mixed farmer Chris Padfield has previously utilised the apprenticeship scheme and is looking forward to engaging with the new scheme:

“I’m looking forward to getting involved with the Trailblazers Apprenticeships as they will allow me to have greater control of the relevant skills that the individual needs to do a good job. The main reason I like this new initiative is that I will be involved with the apprentice at the start of their lifelong learning journey. I will be able to help shape the future of the agricultural industry by ensuring the development of professional and personal skills, which can be transferred to any other employment. I really would encourage people outside the industry to come and get involved – there are so many prospects in agriculture and the number of career options is huge. My motivational thought every day is, 'My work means something tangible to every person – it is such a satisfying feeling knowing that someone is being fed because of the hard work you put in'.”

AHDB has facilitated the Employer Panel to develop the first three production-related standards (Crop Technician, Packhouse Line Leader and Stockperson). These standards will ensure that future apprentices are able to meet employers’ needs and expectations and that the apprentices have access to a standard that sets them up for the future in their chosen field.

Is there an apprenticeship standard that you think will benefit the agriculture or horticulture industry? Contact Amie Burke on amie.burke@ahdb.org.uk