Crop Technician Apprentice
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Company: DARBY NURSERY STOCK LTD
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Location: NORFOLK, IP26 4PW
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Type: Apprenticeship
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Salary: Apprenticeship Minimum Wage
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Sector: Agriculture, environmental and animal care
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Ref: NAS-2000041007
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Application Deadline Date: 14/08/2026
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Start Date: 28/08/2026
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Positions Available: 2
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Working Week: Monday - Wednesday 7.30am - 4.00pm, Thursday and Friday 8.00am - 4.00pm.
Brief Description
The successful applicant will work towards a recognised Crop Technician Apprenticeship qualification while gaining valuable industry experience within a supportive and friendly working environment, with opportunities for future career progression in commercial horticulture.
Training to be Provided
- Crop Technician Standard
- English and Maths (if required) Level 2
- Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work
- Level 2 Award in Safe Application of Pesticides using Self-propelled, Mounted or Trailed Horizontal Boom Sprayers
Future Prospects
On completion of this Apprenticeship, Crop Technicians will have the opportunity to progress within the industry, potential full time position at the nursery.
Vacancy Detail
Working across all departments in the nursery, despatch, production and within the technical team.
- Bed preparations including liverwort removal, raking and re-sanding
- Application of fertiliser and plant protection products
- Assisting with the application of biological controls
- Caning, tying and training plants on canes and trellis
- Maintenance work
- De-leafing plants
- Disposal of unsaleable or surplus plants
- Driving various vehicles on-site and between sites (where qualified to do so)
- Finishing, labelling and packing of plants for orders
- Fleecing and un-fleecing plants
- Grading bare root and young plant liners
- Hand-potting plants
- Hand-watering and automatic irrigation operation / monitoring
- Hand-weeding
- Collating / loading plants for orders
- Machine-potting plants
- Moving plants (from one location to another)
- Opening and closing tunnel and glasshouse doors and vents
- Operation of various hand-held equipment
- Root-pruning and pruning plants
- Selecting plants for orders or potting
- Selecting labels and retail prices labels for orders
- Upkeep of the site, production areas, roadways and structures
- Transporting plants and trees
- Wrapping trolleys
Other Information
- Ability to get to the nursery, ideally the candidate will have their own transport
- Good physical stamina, as the role involves manual labour outdoors