Agricultural contractor

You could take a course at agricultural college, which may be useful when you start looking for work. Courses include:

• Level 2 Award in Agriculture Machine Maintenance
• Level 2 Certificate in Agriculture

Entry requirements

You may need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for agricultural colleges
• search for courses

You could get into this job through an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in agriculture.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could apply directly to become an agricultural contractor. Employers will usually expect you to have experience of working with farm machinery.

Career tips

Agricultural contracting can be competitive, with lots of contractors applying for the same work. It will help you to get jobs and build your business if you have a specialism that no one else in the surrounding area offers.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the National Association of Agricultural Contractors, which can help with industry training and professional development.

Further information

You'll find more about working and training in agriculture from Tasty Careers and the National Land Based College.

You'll need:

• ambition and a desire to succeed
• the ability to work well with others
• knowledge of food production methods
• the ability to use your initiative
• persistence and determination
• sensitivity and understanding
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of human resources and employment law
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• have a Certificate of Competence, if you carry out hazardous tasks using a chainsaw

Driving other vehicles like lorries, tractors, harvesters and fork lift trucks can also be part of your work. You can find out more about driving specialist vehicles from GOV.UK.

You may specialise in areas like:

• crop spraying and fertilising
• harvesting
• seed processing
• seed milling and mixing
• sheep shearing and dipping
• animal management including hoof trimming
• lambing
• breeding

You could also carry out general work like:

• dry stone walling
• fencing
• excavation
• drainage work

You could work on a farm.

Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.