Everything you need to become an Apprentice Farrier

Farrier filling Horse shoe
Filing horse hooves by Jonathan Bean

Overview of the Apprentice Farrier Role

What is a specialist in equine hoof care called? A Farrier! As a farrier you are responsible for balancing, trimming and shoeing horses’ hooves. The perfect combination of blacksmithing and basic veterinary practice, farriers are dedicated to the health and comfort of horses through professional hoof maintenance. As an apprentice not only will you study to be the best in your field, but you will get on the job experience and paid on your way to becoming a fully qualified level 3 Farrier.

Books on a shelf
Studying by Christin Hume

Entry Requirements

Let us cut to the chase and show you how to qualify for your new career in as a Farrier. The entry requirements are as follows:

  • 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including English, Maths and Science
  • English and Maths level 2 will have to be achieved before your end point assessment.

Course Breakdown

This a breakdown of all the things you will learn on your way to becoming a fully qualified level 3 Farrier.

Knowledge

  • Health and safety: Learn to maintain a high level of health and safety, whilst understanding the safe handling of tools and equipment used in a farriery.
  • Breed Identification: Equine Breeds will become second nature to you as you will be able to identify a range of different breeds.
  • Control of Equines: An understanding of how to control Equines will be formed for ease when trimming and shoeing.
  • Anatomy, Physiology and Equine Biomechanics: Grow to understand the anatomy and physiology of the limbs on the equine becoming a real savant.  
  • Ability to produce a thorough foot care plan: No matter the breed, type, or shoeing material you will be able to create the perfect plans for the equine’s needs.

5 Practical Skills you’ll learn as an Apprentice Farrier

  1. Removing an Equine shoe
  2. Making/ reshaping the shoe for the individual equine
  3. Trimming and prep of sole, frog and bars
  4. Producing Clenches from nail tips whilst complying with health and safety guidelines
  5. Working with different breeds on equine.

4 Main Behaviours required of a Farrier

  • Self development
  • Professionalism
  • Adaptability
  • Adherence to legal and ethical frameworks

Read moreEverything you need to become an Apprentice Farrier

What Apprenticeship is Best for You?

Multicultural group of attendees listening to tutor talking about camera parts.

Are you searching for an apprenticeship, but you aren’t quite sure of which route to take? There is a large range of apprenticeships available and choosing which one you are interested in can be overwhelming. In this article, we will go through the skills and interests that you may have and which apprenticeship would be best suited for you.

Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care

Is the world around you something you are passionate about? Applying for an apprenticeship in this field is an exceptional option if you enjoy working with animals, preserving the environment and ensuring sustainable agriculture practices. With an apprenticeship in this field, you are able to contribute to a better planet while developing your career and learning. There are many incredible apprenticeships that are all about developing the key industrial skills to become a professional in this field. This group of apprenticeships can be split into three:

  • Animal care, which entails working towards animal welfare and health, such as being a veterninary nurse, an animal trainer or a welfare assistant.
  • Land management, which can be as broad as learning about and taking part in projects based on organic agriculture, reforestation, water resource management and eco-tourism
  • Environmental, such as being a golf greenkeeper or a florist, to ensure you are keeping the world green and eco-friendly as well as celebrating the fun and pleasure that the outdoors can bring!

With these in mind, you will be required to have key skills, such as customer service, the ability to stay calm under pressure and problem solving skills. These apprenticeships are available from Level 2 to 4, which can mean varied entry requirements and finishing qualifications.

Business and Administration

Within a business and administration apprenticeship, you can develop a significant amount of skills to become a key industry professional. These apprenticeships are very useful if you are great at communicating with people either internally within your team and company, or externally, to customers or other businesses. There are a huge range of apprenticeships within this field, key examples include:

  • Office based, which entails working within a team and working on projects. Apprenticeships in this sector include Project Management (Level 4-6), HR Support (Level 3), and Business Administrator (Level 4).
  • Customer-Facing, which means that you will be interacting with the public for much of your working hours. Apprenticeships in this sector include Retail, Funeral Operations and Services and Contact Centre Operations which are all from Level 2 to 3.

This apprenticeship is key if you have fundamental skills such as confidence, communication and ability to network. You will also be required to have organizational skills to be able to manage your workload, IT skills and time management.

Care Services

Care service apprenticeships are significant in helping you develop the skills and knowledge that is necessary to provide high quality care and support to individuals with various needs. The care industry is a vital part of society, as it provides essential support to individuals who require assistance in their daily lives.

Examples of apprenticeships in this industry include Social Worker (Level 6) , Children, Young People & Families Manager (Level 5) and Employment Related Services (Level 3).

This industry requires individuals who are compassionate, patient and dedicated to helping those in need, and joining an apprenticeship can provide you with plenty of opportunities to develop these skills as well as technical skills required to provide effective care. You will also need communication skills, and be eager to learn about safeguarding.

Catering and Hospitality

If you are passionate about food, customer service, and have an appetite for learning, then an apprenticeship in catering and hospitality could be perfect for you! Joining this industry can be a highly rewarding career path, with plenty of career opportunities and the chance to work in a fast paced and dynamic working environment.

This apprenticeship industry is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to work in various roles including being a Baker (Level 2), a hospitality manager (Level 4) and Commis chef (Level 2).

During a Catering and Hospitality apprenticeship, you can get the opportunity to learn about topics such as food preparation, cooking techniques, customer service, health and safety and business management. You must have flexibility and the ability to work under pressure, as working in a fast paced environment can be stressful, however, the experience can also be very rewarding and be an excellent foundation to work towards a promotion and other chances for career advancement.

Hispanic Female trainee Mechanics Working Underneath Car Together Car maintenance and auto service garage. Car maintenance and auto service garage concept.

Construction

The construction industry is a vital part of the economy and plays a vital part of the world around us. From the homes we live in, the heating and plumbing, the electricity, and even the infrastructure of our cities, construction is a fundamental part of our day to day life, and joining an apprenticeship can be highly beneficial.

The construction industry offers a huge array of options for apprenticeships, which gives you a lot of variety when choosing which one would be more suitable for you. There are lower level apprenticeships starting from Level 2 such as a Painting and Decorating, a Scaffolding and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Higher options for apprenticeships can be from levels 5 to 7, including Construction Management, Architecture and Civil Engineering. It is recommended with apprenticeships in this industry to start off with a lower level and to progress into a higher level.

The skill set of these apprenticeships are as vast as the amount of career opportunities. More manual apprenticeships require skills such as physicality, the ability to work under pressure, and to be able to keep health and safety as a main priority. With higher level apprenticeships, problem solving and logical skills are fundamental. Other skills can include understanding the use of construction materials and equipment and having a willingness to develop.

Creative and design

The creative and design industry is a huge part of the fun and recreational activities that make the world more entertaining, and is also key in every day things such as the fashion that we wear. Joining an apprenticeship in this industry is an incredible way to showcase your creative and innovation skills.

The apprenticeships in this industry can be sorted into different groups

  • Events and broadcasting such as Technical Theatre, Lighting, Sound and Stage apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) and Broadcast and media systems engineer (Level 6)
  • Media and content creation such as Creative and Digital Media (Level 3 and 4) and Photo Imaging (Level 3)
  • Crafting and fashion such as Bespoke Tailor and Cutter (Level 6) and Fashion and Textiles (Level 2 and 3)

This industry is perfect if you are passionate about your creativity skills and are determined to showcase this and implement it into your work. It also requires problem solving skills and practical skills depending on the apprenticeship speciality, such as IT skills or understanding how to measure and use equipment.

Digital

Digital apprenticeships are becoming a lot more popular due to the advancement in modern technology, and many workspaces requiring new roles to be able to keep up with this. This high demand means that you are more likely to secure a career in the digital industry. Digital apprenticeships also have a large advantage as you are able to work remotely or hybrid in most cases which is very flexible.

Examples of apprenticeships in the digital industry include Software Development (Level 4), Data Analysis (Level 4) and Cyber security technical professional (Level 6).

Having IT and technology skills is essential in this job, and having a key interest in digital is essential as most of the workload you will receive will be on a computer or another device. It is also important to have passion for innovation as there are many advancements in the digital industry.

Health and science

Within the health and science industry, there is a vast amount of opportunities as this is a vital role within society. Roles within health and science are dedicated to the development and growth of knowledge, as well as keeping health and safety as a priority. Joining this industry would require a lot of care, and the optimism to learn. The Health and Science industry is a wide umbrella consisting of many key careers, and apprenticeships can include:

  • Medical, such as Healthcare assistant practitioner (Level 5), Midwife (Level 6) and Dental technician (Level 5)
  • Health and Diet, such as Occupational therapist (Level 5), Food technologist (Level 3) and Personal Trainer (Level 3)
  • Scientific, such as Metrology (Level 3), Laboratory scientist (Level 6) and Clinical trials specialist (Level 6)

To thrive in this career, you must have active listening and learning skills, empathy, and communication skills. You must also be proficient in maths and logic, and to be proficient in data analysis.

Conclusion

There are a vast amount of apprenticeship opportunities, and each industry has a huge array of skills. Finding an apprenticeship that you are passionate about will be extremely useful as you will be able to actively enjoy and flourish in your role, and after you gain your qualifications, you will be given many opportunities to progress in your chosen career, or obtain an even higher level apprenticeship.

Land-Based Service Engineering Technician

Agriculture Equipment

As a level 3 Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Apprentice, you will work outdoors and provide technical support and guidance for a variety of plant and equipment. You may work in industries such as agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and outdoor power. In this customer-facing role, you will use your own judgment to diagnose and fix complex problems in machinery, plant, and equipment. You may also mentor and supervise junior coworkers and give advice to customers on selecting machinery. Read on to find out more about this engineering apprenticeship.

Engineering Technician Entry Requirements

Employers set the selection criteria for their apprentices. This is usually 4 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent, including Maths, English, and Science. It is helpful to have a good understanding of Information and Communication Technology.

If you don’t have level 2 Maths and English, you’ll need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment (EPA). If you already have a level 2 apprenticeship and meet the employer’s criteria, you may be able to complete the level 3 apprenticeship in a shorter timeframe.

The duration of the apprenticeship is typically between 36 and 48 months, with a review after 3 years. The specific title of the apprenticeship may vary depending on the industry, such as Agricultural Engineering Technician or Forestry Equipment Technician.

Be an engineering technician on agricultural plant

Engineering Technician Knowledge Requirements

Technicians will have a vast knowledge and understanding upon completion of the apprenticeship. This includes:

  • Completing a risk assessments.
  • Identifying, using and caring for diagnostics tools and equipment.
  • Interpreting wiring and hydraulic circuit diagrams.
  • Diagnosing and repairing complex technological systems
  • Recording and communicating information both manually and electronically, such as diagnostic data, machinery condition or repair proposals and quotes.
  • Accessing and interpreting data
  • Understanding the influence of operational conditions in the diagnosis and repair of technology.
  • Working professionally and engaging in continual professional development.

Engineering Technician Skill Requirements

Apprentices will learn the skills to do the following upon completion of the apprenticeship:

  • Be able to follow procedures and work safely.
  • Explain complex technical matters to customers.
  • Look professional as an individual and a team.
  • Install and handover machinery, plant and equipment.
  • Conduct advanced maintenance
  • Carry out diagnostic and repairs to manufacturers specification.
  • Compile technical reports.
  • Maintain both hydraulic and electronic equipment.
  • Minimise downtown through preventative maintenance.

Who Should You Be?

To succeed in the Land-Based Service Engineering Apprenticeship, you should have strong problem-solving skills and be logical. It’s important to have a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a focus on delivering quality work. Safety is a top priority, and you should be responsible for yourself and others.

It’s helpful to be able to work independently, however, being a team player is also important. Good communication skills with your team and the ability to explain complex topics to customers are essential.

You should be adaptable and able to handle new situations and technology in different working environments. Finally, aligning with the company’s goals will help you contribute to profitability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if this sounds interesting, then this could be the apprenticeship for you. Being able to get your teeth stuck into difficult technical problems and thinking on your feet, all whilst being on location with customers. Most importantly, you will be able to earn while you learn before ending the apprenticeship with a qualification and a great career.

For more detail, take a look at the Land-Based Service Engineering Technician assessment plan.

Keep Up to Date

Level 2 Land-Based Service Engineer Apprenticeship

Male engineer in hard hat pointing

Are you one for getting your hands dirty whilst learning new skills? An apprenticeship as a Land-Based Service Engineer could be right for you. This could be your ideal entryway into a brand new career, or simply stepping up your current role to the next level. Whatever your approach, read on to find out more about this unique and exciting opportunity.

Page contents

Role description and entry requirements for engineers

Prior to diving in head first into a (potentially) new career, you should know what is required.

Land-Based Service Engineers will work of their own initiative on an employers premise under supervision of a senior technician. This one role contains a wide variety of tasks, including: preparation of new & second-hand equipment for sale, performing routine service and maintenance on said equipment, and conducting operation and systems testing. In reality, LBSE’s will be required to perform a wide range of duties. It’s a strict environment with the opportunity to develop useful knowledge, as well as learn the disciplines of safe working practice.

This may sound pretty heavy hitting right now, but this is a fantastic path to explore. Especially if you love the outdoors! Now let’s talk entry requirements. These are set by the employers but will typically include English and Maths GCSEs at a C/4 or equivalent. It is preferred that potential candidates also have a basic understanding of ICT, but this isn’t strictly necessary to begin with. Don’t panic if you haven’t got recent English and Maths certificates, however. There will be a chance to complete these before the end point assessment of the apprenticeship.

Occupational behaviours and knowledge of an engineer

As well as the entry requirements it’s vital that Land-Based Service Engineer apprentices adhere to a certain set of behaviours. This is to ensure success both in their role and in the overall company.

These behaviours include being:

  • Safety orientated – disciplined, responsible, risk-adverse.
  • Quality focused – logical, good listener, seeks opportunities to improve.
  • A strong communicator – open, honest, respectful.
  • A team player – considerate, pro-active, interactive with others.
  • Open to learn – reflective, adaptable, attentive.

These behaviours should be demonstrated in the day-to-day work environment. It is vital to adhere to them, not only for personal development, but also for safety reasons.

By the end of the apprenticeship, you will also have a decent bank of knowledge under your belt. It’s important that our apprentices understand how to operate within this working environment as well as how to do the job itself. This is to ensure the safety of workers, both during their apprenticeship and after.

This is a unique aspect of practical apprenticeships such as this one.

Knowledge requirements include:

  • How to comply with Health & Safety at Work Act.
  • How to comply with Manual Handling regulations and the abrasive wheel regulations.
  • Learning workplace procedures, such as the chain of command and company staff handbook.
  • How to record information.
  • Workshop best practices, such as tool identification and storage.
  • Knowing the methods of thermally and chemically joining metals and components.
  • Learning the operating principles of certain machinery.
  • Interpreting and accessing technical data relating to machinery and equipment.
  • Handing over machinery, plant and equipment to the control of another.
  • A good grasp on emergency first aid.

Again, it sounds like a lot to begin with! But it certainly will be worth it by the time you reach your end point assessment.

Two farm vehicles collect crops in the middle of a field.

What you will learn as a Land-Based Service Engineer

Speaking of end point assessment, by the time you get there you will have a wealth of knowledge at your disposal. All things you will be able to take with you into the wider working world. Below are a list of the key things you will learn on this apprenticeship:

  • Select and apply appropriate tools and equipment.
  • Demonstrate dexterity, resourcefulness, and a professional approach.
  • Maintain and conduct basic repairs and maintenance activities under supervision.
  • Thermally and chemically join metals and materials.
  • Access and interpret technical data relating to service and maintenance operations.
  • Communicate well with customers and colleagues, written and oral.
  • Expressing technical information in clear concise terms whilst demonstrating customer care principles.
  • Work efficiently both under supervision, individually and as a team member.
  • Demonstrate a logical, safe and systematic approach to work practices.
  • Carry out operational tests on low technology plant, equipment and machinery.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a unique, hands-on apprenticeship, then a Level 2 Land-Based Service Engineer could be just the right one for you. The skills you will learn will open up a wide range of job opportunities within the Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture sector. Some examples of this are Agricultural Service Engineer, Forestry Equipment Service Engineer, or an Outdoor Power Equipment Service Engineer. Employers are looking towards apprenticeships to accelerate their work force, and this opportunity could be just what you need to take your first steps within such a specialist industry.

For a more in depth look at this apprenticeship, you can read the brief full brief here.

Not feeling like the right fit? Why not take a look at Apprentice Tips full range of Engineering and Manufacturing Apprenticeships here.

Level 3 – Crop Technician Apprenticeship

Crop Technician Apprenticeship - Agricultural.

Why Choose an Agricultural Apprenticeship?

In fact, Agricultural and horticultural industries account for more than 14% of the British GDP, as they are the foundation for both the food and landscaping industries. Thus, they offer a wide variety of career opportunities both in the UK and abroad.

What is a Crop Technician Apprenticeship?

During the crop technician apprenticeship, you’ll be responsible for optimising crop or plant yields through establishment, management, harvest and post-harvest operations, while maintaining and improving the surrounding environment. You’ll also need to keep up to date with technological advances and new innovations.

What will I learn from an Agricultural Apprenticeship?

TaskSkills
Overarching Promote and maintain health, safety and security
Manage accurate records within the workplace.
Maintain and operate machinery and other equipment to allow safe and efficient operation.
Crop Establishment Prepare seed bed/growing medium for maximum growth potential.
Carry out relevant establishment of crops for efficient growth.
Vehicle Operation Competently operate (to the equivalent of a certified level) a relevant vehicle used in the business.
Crop Management Control of pests, weeds and diseases including safe use, application and storage of chemicals.
Carry out plant nutrient application and/or irrigation tasks if applicable to aid growth of crop.
Harvest Carry out harvesting operations including assessment of timing and quality.
Appropriate harvesting techniques to match crop condition and quality requirements.
Operate to high levels of hygiene.
Storage Store crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality.
Maintenance and Preparation Soil/substrate maintenance tasks to ensure efficient and healthy growth of the crop/plant.
Soil/substrate sampling and acting upon results as appropriate to ensure nutrition is correct.

Apprenticeship Details

Duration: 24 months

Level: 3

Entry requirements: There are no previous qualifications required. Although you must have the attitude and ability to develop the required skills and knowledge during the apprenticeship. This is usually be tested in an application/interview process.

Alternative job titles: Arable technician, Horticulture operative.

EQA Provider: Ofqual

Certificates awarded

Level 2 Awards in: Safe Use of Pesticides – On completion of the pesticides foundation unit above also choose one of the following units:

  • Boom sprayer, mounted, trailed or self-propelled equipment
  • Granular applicator equipment
  • Handheld applicator equipment

Level 3 award in Emergency First Aid at Work – Apprentices without Level 2 English and Math’s will need to achieve this level prior to taking the ESA.

Behaviours of an Apprentice

It is important for apprentices to develop a diverse set of personal skills and behaviours in order to succeed in their chosen profession. Some of these include:

  • A strong work ethic
  • Adaptable
  • Effective communicator
  • Team Worker
  • A good awareness of safety

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