Livestock Unit Technician Apprenticeship Level 3
Course Details
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Department
Agriculture -
Qualification
Level 3 -
Length
2 Years -
Location(s)
York
Course at a glance
An apprenticeship is a job with training. The job must have a productive purpose and should provide the apprentice with the opportunity to embed and consolidate the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for their immediate job and future career.
Entry Requirements
GCSEs
L3 Apprenticeship Standards require the Apprentice to have prior experience in the Sector and be working in a role with sufficient responsibility to enable them to demonstrate all of the Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours required.
You will have already achieved L2 (as a minimum) & L2 functional skills Maths & English, equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 (or old GCSE Grade C) or above.
Cost for students aged Under 19
Free
for students over the age of 19 please contact us
Course summary
With over 150,000 businesses, the agriculture industry offers exciting and varied careers in the UK and abroad. The industry provides the opportunity to work in a technically advanced and innovative environment, with businesses ranging from small family farms through to large integrated organisations working across the food supply chain.
As a Livestock Unit Technician you will usually operationally manage the livestock-related tasks on the farm such as animal health and welfare from conception and birth through to the customer, and to support business productivity. You will make key decisions on a day-to-day basis to ensure the protection of your own and health and safety of others. This includes ensuring the standards of cross compliance, farm assurance, biosecurity and infrastructure security are met. You will be understand, record and meet the business Key Performance Indicators that are set out by the employer
The Livestock Unit Technician may work with different species of farmed livestock. There are no optional pathways with this standard. All of the content is core.
On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be a skilled livestock technician who will continue working on farm in roles such as unit/herd/ flock manager, head stockperson, or choosing to progress to junior management through the next level apprenticeship (an Assistant Farm Manager Level 4 Apprenticeship due for release in due course), or you may choose further study and progress to employment in the allied industries such as breeding services, feeding/nutrition roles.
*This does not include poultry, as there is a separate Poultry Technician apprenticeship standard available through alternative specialist providers.
Key Information
Through your daily work with your employer and your training sessions with the college, you will learn the requirements of managing farmed livestock competently to meet production specifications including:
- Implementing biosecurity and infrastructure security in accordance with farm health and safety standards
- Managing nutrition of livestock relevant to the stage of production
- Maintaining, analysing and utilising production records to improve productivity
- Managing the health and welfare of livestock pre, during and post parturition
- Operating and maintaining a range of farm equipment, using technology to increase performance and aid compliance
- Carrying out and supervising others with animal handling and movement across the site, to meet welfare and safety standards
- Implementing industry relevant legislation and supply chain requirements
- Selecting and preparing livestock ready for sale or transfer in line with customer specification
You will also complete the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work
- Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines
On successful completion of the training period, you will move through End Point Assessment Gateway and be in a position to undertake the assessments required in order to achieve your apprenticeship.
The End Point Assessment will only start once the employer is satisfied that you are consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard, the pre-requisite gateway requirements have been met and that they can be evidenced to an End Point Assessment Organisation.
The End Point Assessor will be appointed by the EPAO and will be entirely independent to the college.
For this apprenticeship the End Point Assessment will include:
- Exam, usually taken at college
- Practical assessment with questioning, of tasks in your workplace
- Professional discussion in your workplace
Your apprenticeship will be graded Fail, Pass or Distinction.
The duration of the apprenticeship is based on a skills analysis and the development opportunities within the business.
The maximum duration for this apprenticeship training period is 18 months, with up to a further three months to undertake the End Point Assessment.
20% of time spent in off job training changed to 6 hours per week to be spent in off job training
This could be reduced where an apprentice holds previous experience.
Individual employers will set their own selection criteria.
L3 Apprenticeship Standards require the Apprentice to have prior experience in the Sector and be working in a role with sufficient responsibility to enable them to demonstrate all of the Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours required.
You will have already achieved L2 (as a minimum) & L2 functional skills Maths & English, equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 (or old GCSE Grade C) or above.
Employers pay for apprenticeship training, where fees are applicable. We will discuss this with your employer when we complete a set-up with them.
The fees charged for the apprenticeship include any awarding body registration costs, all on-programme teaching, assessment and support delivered by the college, support materials, access to college facilities such as the Learning Resource Centre, Student Moodle, and access to wider college student support services where required.
Employers must pay apprentices at least the minimum rate set out by current National Minimum Wage Legislation. This includes payment for all off-job learning and any associated costs such as travel and accommodation.
Click here to find more information about the National Minimum Wage.
Employer involvement
Your employer must enable you to spend a minimum of 20% of your usual work hours undertaking off-job learning. This is defined as learning which is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of the apprenticeship. This can include training that is delivered at your normal place of work but must not be delivered as part of your normal working duties, and must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard.
Off-job learning could include the following:
– Teaching of theory such as lectures, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning or manufacturer training
– Practical training such as shadowing experienced staff or mentoring, industry visits and attendance at competitions
– Study support and time spent writing assessments/assignments
Your employer must commit to supporting you in the workplace, participating in progress review meetings, providing use of ICT facilities so you can access your e-portfolio and agreeing/ensuring your readiness for the End Point Assessment. They may be required to provide further supporting evidence/endorsements about your performance, which form part of the End Point Assessment.
Further details of the End Point Assessment will be made available to you during your induction.
College input
We will support you through regular Apprenticeship Progress Review meetings with you and your manager, provide well planned vocational training and theory delivery by block release model and support your theory learning in the workplace with a range of learning materials.
This programme is delivered at our York Campus on Block-release.
How to apply
Applications should be made using the college application form or via the college website. This form can be found at: https://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/application/register.
Upon receipt of your application you will have an interview with the Course Manager.
Further information
Further information is available on:
Livestock unit technician / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Or, for more information, contact the Apprenticeship Admin team on:
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York Campus
York is one of the College's two residential campuses and is located just four miles from York city centre. At York we offer a full range of subject areas and levels including Apprenticeships, Level 1-3 Diplomas, Foundation, Top Up and BSc Honours Degrees.
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