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Agriculture

There’s more to working in agriculture than you may think. With vacancies at an all-time high, now is a great time to apply. Whether you’re interested in food production, harvesting crops, logistics or management there could be a job waiting for you, no matter what your skills or background.

Types of roles

There are a wide variety of opportunities within agriculture from fruit and vegetable harvesting, through to logistics, food production and management roles.

Modern farming uses cutting-edge technology to keep up with the growing demand. You could be a part of testing innovative ways to solve problems.

You’ll need to be physically fit as you’ll be working on your feet all day, in all weather conditions.

At certain times of the year you may be asked to work long days, but you can generally earn overtime for this. Your flexible hours may include weekends.

Because of these hours you’ll need to live close by or in some cases live on the farm where you work, but this will vary depending on the roles you can discuss this with the farm you’re applying to.

A lot of the work is dirty so you will need to wear suitable protective clothing.

You can expect to earn anywhere between £12k and £18k per annum rising to more than £42k as you develop your skills, and take on more responsibilities.

You may also be provided with accommodation which could either be free or very cheap.

There are UK-wide vacancies available in farming, food production and manufacturing. Visit the Feed the Nation website to find vacancies in food production across the country. For  farming vacancies visit Find a job and The Farmers Weekly and listen to Joe’s story about his move from retail to farming.

Benefits of working in agriculture

  • From fruit pickers and packers, to plant husbandry and forklift drivers, there are a wide range of roles available right across the UK.
  • There’s no better “office” than the great outdoors and being in nature has long been associated with good mental health and wellbeing.
  • Most farms are looking for full time workers, but each farm is different so ask the employer about what flexibility they can offer.
  • The global population is expanding so demand for agriculture is only going to rise, and while some roles are focused on meeting critical needs, working in this industry can also provide good job security and a long-term career.
Hand holding bucket of picked apples

Desirable skills

​There are many transferrable skills for roles in agriculture, including the ability to work well with others, attention to detail, physical skills like movement, coordination and dexterity as well as excellent verbal communication skills.

SUPPORT IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY OR LONG-TERM HEALTH CONDITION

Many employers in this sector are members of the Disability Confident scheme. This means that they have committed to actions that will provide work related opportunities for people with a disability or physical or mental health condition. You can search for a job with a Disability Confident employer on Find a Job.

Access to Work can pay towards the costs for communication support at a job interview and may be able to provide ongoing practical or mental health support when you get a job. To find out if you are eligible check the latest guidance.

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