Overview
Job Title: Farm Assistant
Employer: Pilgrim’s Europe
Location: Carnforth LA6 2HT, United Kingdom
Salary: £11.35 per hour
Terms of employment: Full-time
Start date: Starts as soon as possible
About Us
Pilgrim’s Europe produces some of the most well-known and recognizable brands in the UK and Ireland: Fridge Raiders, Rollover, Denny, Richmond, Oakhouse, and Moy Park.
In addition to collaborating with all the leading merchants and food service establishments, it provides a wide variety of industry-leading own-label products in categories such as fresh pig, lamb, and chicken. Our offering includes authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking selections, added-value items, and food service items.
20,000 of the most outstanding professionals in the business work together at Pilgrim’s Europe, driven by a shared passion for creating the most delicious, inventive, and high-quality cuisine that millions of people in the UK, Ireland, and around Europe eat daily.
The Pilgrim’s UK, Moy Park, Pilgrim’s Food Masters, and Pilgrim’s Shared Services businesses are home to our Pilgrim’s Europe team.
Job Description
We seek an experienced farm assistant to provide assistance and support to the farm management team and enable the smooth running of the Laying Farm to produce the maximum number of high-quality hatching eggs with high hatchability.
- To obtain a thorough understanding of MP poultry.
- Utilizing the MP competency framework, acquire the necessary abilities in this field to benefit that department and offer value.
- To conduct business in a way that actively aims to minimize any adverse effects on the environment from the processes and procedures used both locally and throughout the entire company, such as trash reduction and recycling
- Helping with the following tasks on a laying farm: collecting eggs, including floor and nest eggs; grading; sanitizing; preparing and reassembly of the site; unloading birds; drawing blood; cleaning drinkers; and routine housekeeping, such as mowing the grass, pulling weeds, cleaning, and sweeping up. Weighing birds.
- To guarantee adherence to all biosecurity protocols.
- Should inform the farm management of any issues you find with the stock, such as potential disease problems.
- You should notify the farm management of any issues you find with the equipment.
- To notify the farm management of any issues that could jeopardize their health and safety and put them or others at risk.
- To abide by all health and safety laws, particularly COSHH and risk assessment paperwork.
- Respect and adhere to the no-smoking rule.
- Any more tasks that are necessary
- Do not engage in other activities with other bird species outside Moy Park, such as domestic chickens or cage birds.
- Must be prepared to finish Level 2 of the Poultry Passport
How to Apply
Online through the company website.
There are equal work opportunities in Pilgrim’s Europe. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Farm Assistant Overview
You are recommended to focus on business, science, and math in high school to become a farm assistant. IT proficiency is also essential. Most employers will take your attitude and personal attributes into account.
A significant amount of informal on-the-job training is to be expected. Farm Assistants collaborate directly with a farm manager or owner; as such, they get the chance to learn new skills and ask questions.
Before landing a job, you can pursue a certificate, diploma, or degree program. You can also pursue part-time education while working.
Duties of a Farm Assistant
Feeding
You will assist with feeding the farm’s cattle, including the cows, calves, and other animals. Allocating the feed, operating the equipment to distribute it, and ensuring the animals have eaten enough may all fall under your purview.
Milking
The motor room of any dairy farm and where you may get your hands dirty. As you affix cows’ cups, you will discover how milk travels from the cows to the collecting vat.
Animal Health
A key component of your job description will be monitoring the cows. In addition to assisting any animals in need, you and your manager will work on issues like reproduction, herd testing, and preventative steps like drenching calves.
Environment
This could entail moving the effluent spreader and monitoring the system with your manager to ensure it’s operating correctly. Further practices to lessen the farm’s adverse environmental effects include spraying, fencing, and planting trees and other plants alongside rivers.
How to Become a Farm Assistant / Worker
Obtain a Formal Degree
A degree can help you improve your qualifications for a position and allow you to pursue mid-level roles when entering the industry. It also shows a potential employer that you’re ambitious about pursuing a full-time career in agriculture or animal care.
It allows you to direct your career path by gaining expert farming knowledge. Popular courses for working in farming teach about crop production, animal husbandry, and operating farm machinery.
Consider an Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship may be a perfect choice if you want to work in farming while continuing your education. You can choose several apprenticeships depending on your area of interest and skills.
For example, you could complete the Level 2 general farm worker, stock person, or poultry worker apprenticeships and Level 3 poultry technician or packhouse line leader apprenticeships.
Furthermore, to qualify for an intermediate apprenticeship, an employer may require that you have some GCSEs, for example, in English and math. If you’re interested in an advanced apprenticeship, they may require you to have at least five GCSEs from grades nine to four.
Apply Directly
If you have a strong interest in farming and aim to pursue this career path as soon as possible, you can apply directly to a farm you choose. You must prepare an interesting job application, including a personalized CV and cover letter.
In these documents, you can present your essential farming skills, discuss your experience, and convince a potential employer why you’re qualified to work at their farm. While preparing your application, highlight any previous experience working outdoors, handling animals, or cultivating crops.
Most aspiring farm workers also benefit from having some basic skills in mechanics. If you’re interested in a specific type of farm, such as a dairy farm, you must know about dairy work and procedures.
How Much Does a Farm Worker Earn in the UK?
According to Talent.com, the average farm worker salary in the United Kingdom is £23,813 per year or £12.21 per hour. Entry-level positions start at £21,712 per year, while most experienced workers make up to £30,000 annually.
Most people who work in this role are entry-level or seasonal employees. However, if you enjoy working with people and want to use your customer service skills, you can work at a farm shop where you sell produce directly to farm visitors and customers. The average salary of a farm shop supervisor is £21,250 per year.
Important Farming Skills
Hard Skills
One of the first things employers may ask you about during an interview is your hard skills, which you can learn through education, self-learning, or work experience.
Any physical labor job requires a decent set of hard skills or the ability to build them quickly. Typically, critical hard skills of farm workers include:
Machinery: Learning to operate farming machinery and equipment may improve your professional qualifications. Standard machinery includes tractors, balers, combines, mowers, and planters. It is also beneficial to know how to use various hand and power tools, such as axes, hatchets, or shovels, confidently.
Landscaping: Landscaping is an essential skill for maintaining a farm’s appearance. Typically, landscaping includes lawn maintenance, soil management, and pest control.
If you’re applying for a job on a farm that focuses on attracting visitors through taking care of its garden and lawns, highlight your basic drawing and design skills, which can help assist landscape architects during their work.
Animal Husbandry: Animal husbandry includes any skills related to breeding and raising animals on a farm. This includes day-to-day care, such as feeding and cleaning, and occasional duties, such as administering medication or vaccinations.
Many modern farms take advantage of technological advancements when raising animals, which you may want to learn how to operate to increase your chances of getting a job.
Soft Skills
Soft skills are productive personality traits that support how you function at work. Here are some essential soft skills that you may find helpful when working on a farm:
Strong Communication Skills: Working on a farm requires knowing how to cooperate with others easily. You may work with suppliers, gardeners, landscapers, or farm managers.
Strong communication skills make working on a farm more enjoyable because they allow you to prevent conflicts and make it easier to express your needs and share ideas.
Patience: Patience is one of the most essential skills in farming. On a farm, it usually takes a few months to see the effects of your work. Patience allows you to spend your time wisely and enjoy the process more.
Flexibility: When flexible, you’re typically prepared to perform various duties depending on the farm’s current needs. For example, during spring and summer, your employer may assign you more tasks related to planting crops and fertilizing soil.
Similarly, during winter, you may spend more time caring for animals. Flexibility also allows you to learn more because you see challenges as opportunities for growth.
