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Apprentice Watercress Grower
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Apprentice Watercress Grower
VITACRESS SALADS LIMITED
Hampshire (SP11 6DB)
Closes in 3 days (Friday 16 October 2026)
Posted on 21 September 2026
Summary
You will assist in the growing, harvesting, and maintenance operations of a watercress farm whilst following company guidelines. You will also attend Sparsholt College 1 day per week where you will study for the Crop Technician Level 3 qualification.
Wage
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage Minimum wage rates
Training
Training course
Crop technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 7.00am - 3.00pm. This will include day release to college during term time. 40 hours a week
Start date
Monday 26 October 2026
Duration
2 years 3 months
Positions available
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Employees have a duty to take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by employees’ actions at work.
- Employees must co-operate with employers and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.
Person specification
- You will need to be physically fit and able to work in all weather conditions.
- You will need to have the desire to learn all aspects of growing watercress.
- You will be expected to attend training both internally and externally to include first aid as an essential.
- To follow course syllabus and work towards completing all task set by course instructor.
- Perform general farm duties as instructed by your manager, these may include, bed cleaning, levelling, planting, fertiliser application, rolling, harvesting, chipping and general farm husbandry.
- Complete any paperwork that is required in the day to-day needs of the farm.
- Assist in implementing any new production methods which aim to improve the efficiency of the farm.
- Ensure all assets are maintained and utilised efficiently and maintain the production areas, buildings and environments in a serviceable, tidy and weed-free state.
- Always observe company Health & Safety and Environment Policy requirements.
- You will be expected if the need arises to work on different sites in the UK, a driving licence is an essential requirement.
- Understand the cycle of growing watercress including the quality of water entering and discharging from beds and farms, following the criteria and in particular ensure compliance with EA discharge consents through the effective utilisation and maintenance of settlement facilities.
- Work as a team member and instil a positive approach within the workplace.
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Where you'll work
Lower Link Farm
Lower Link St Mary Bourne
Andover Hampshire SP11 6DB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Training course
Crop technician (level 3) Understanding apprenticeship levels
What you'll learn
- Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
- Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
- Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
- Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
- Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
- Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
- Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management. (Core)
- Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
- Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
- Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
- Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
- Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
- Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
- Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
- Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
- Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
- Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
- Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
- Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
- Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)
- Set and monitor machinery performance to ensure good seed or plant establishment and crop growth. (Soil based)
- Set machinery and equipment taking into account the crop, environment, soil condition and specification requirements. (Soil based)
- Maintain non-productive areas. (Soil based)
- Assess the impact of machinery on soil structure and identify potential damage in accordance with legislation. (Soil based)
- Optimise growth conditions for crops, based on the specific needs of the plant relative to the environment. (Container based)
- Maintain productive and non-productive areas. (Container based)
- Plan for and carry out the removal of waste materials following harvest or dispatch. (Container based)
- Evaluate and select different growing mediums taking into account site conditions and production requirements. (Container based)
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Training schedule
Day release during term time to Sparsholt College.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
- GCSE in: English (grade 4(C))
- Maths (grade 4 (C) or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Analytical skills
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
About this employer
We started in 1951 with ambition, determination and one precious acre of watercress beds in Alresford, Hampshire. We are now part of the RAR Group with a network of farms and 13.5 hectares of glasshouses, employing over 1500 people across Europe.
https://vitacress.com/
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay potential future pay.
You may be offered a permanent position upon successful completion of your apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is: SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054602.
Apply now
Closes in 3 days (Friday 16 October 2026)
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