gateway role - dairy
DAIRY FARM WORKER
A family farm near Chippenham is looking for a full-time member of staff to work on a weekday and weekend rota.
One of the family is ex-Army who works part-time on the farm and is also a Physical Trainer; he is very happy to talk to interested candidates before they formally apply.
The farmer writes:
We are looking for a farm worker – details below – who is enthusiastic, reliable and very keen to learn with a huge interest in livestock agriculture. We are not concerned about experience as we are used to teaching people.
The wages are minimum to start with but rise with experience. We are keen for our employees to progress and attend courses etc. There would be a (paid) trial period.
This is a family farm and we all work together. We employ three people full time plus various relief milkers.
This job is a great opportunity for anyone wishing to learn about agriculture and advance a career in this field.
There is single accommodation in a large mobile home which would mean sharing with a young Romanian lad (he mainly speaks Italian, his English is not brilliant).
It would probably be preferable to employ someone who lives locally but they would definitely need their own transport to get here.
Our future son-in-law was in the Army and since 2012 he has been a personal trainer. He is very keen on the farm and has learnt to milk the cows over the past year and now relief milks for us once a week which he thoroughly enjoys. He says it has been very good for his mental health. He would be able to chat with any prospective employee.
Job description:
Assistant Milker and General Farm Worker
Tasks include:
Milking
Operating scraper tractor
Operating telehandler
Maintenance and cleaning of equipment/machinery
Calf feeding
Cleaning cow beds, feed areas and water troughs
General farm tasks
6 days per week
Hours – 38 hour week + weekend overtime
Weekdays: Split day 5am to 10.30am (30 minute break for breakfast)
3.50pm to 6.30pm
Weekends: Split day 5am to 9am 3.50pm to 6.30pm
Wages:
£ 8.50 per hour
£11.00 per hour overtime
If you would like to apply or find out more, email jobs@ruralink.org.uk.
GRAIN STORE OPERATOR
Telehandler experience; scenic rural location; package includes vehicle
This is a permanent job opportunity working for a large Grain store. The company takes in grain from farms during harvest and throughout the year as needed.
For insurance purposes you must be over 21 and have telehandler/loader experience.
The job would suit a sensible mechanically minded person who is able to deal with numerous farm machinery.
Ideal start date : 1st July 2019
Full Driving licence is required
Hours are dependant on the season – candidates must be prepared to work longer hours at harvest.
There are 11 people working on site – applicants must be self-motivated and well presented.
The job comes with a vehicle.
Salary: Dependant on experience
Voluntary Roles
RURALINK CONSERVATION GROUP PROJECT MANAGER
RURALINK is establishing a veterans' conservation group to offer volunteering opportunities and experience to resettling personnel wanting to move into the sector. If you are interested in working on this project - which will offer plenty of opportunity to develop contacts and gain experience on several conservation projects and look great on your CV - please get in touch.
This would suit an individual of any rank/service who can spare a few hours most weeks for a few months. You must be based in the south of England. Some expenses will be payable.
Image: Reservoir built over former dew pond and associated well. Volunteers worked for a day to restore the site which is now, once more, the principal water source for grazing sheep.
FWAG Volunteering
Every Tuesday and Wednesday a group of volunteers, led by a professional, undertake water conservation projects in Gloucestershire, often using traditional techniques. If you would like to gain some experience of coppicing, faggoting, dry stone walling, river-bank improvements, dew pond management and much, much more, get in touch. fiona@ruralink.org.uk
Rural Conservation Skills (nationally)
A brief online search for the area in which you intend to resettle will produce several groups with whom to volunteer, often with expenses paid and gain skills and experience - and a network - which will help you find professional opportunities and give you invaluable content for your CV and experiences and knowledge to set you up for a confident interview.
This page from the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) will give you an idea of what you should be looking for.
POULTRY ASSISTANT MANAGER
NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY - JUST A GOOD ATTITUDE!
Poultry Assistant Manager required.
A brand new, state of the art poultry farm is being built. A highly experienced manager with an outstanding track record has been recruited. An assistant is required to join him and the wider team who has excellent attention to detail and an ambition to learn.
Job Summary
• This is an opportunity for someone to enter or progress in the poultry industry.
• Poultry livestock experience is a bonus, but full training will be provided if
needed. Indeed, any background will be considered if the candidate has the
right personal attributes.
• The ideal candidate will be physically fit, self-motivated, enthusiastic and
dedicated.
• A good eye for detail is essential.
• This a responsible position, which needs the successful candidate to be a
team player and also happy to work alone.
Responsibilities and Duties
• Walking the chicken houses daily and identifying any illness or feed problems
and checking general flock wellbeing and building maintenance.
• Ensuring biosecurity measures are met.
• Managing the houses, feeders and drinkers.
• Use of poultry house computers to monitor bird performance and wellbeing.
• Respond to alarms calls in an urgent and timely manner.
The Reward
Accommodation is available. An attractive financial package, with pension, bonus scheme and other benefits is offered.
The start date if full training is required would be mid-July; for an experienced candidate it would be early September.
The Next Step
To apply for this exciting opportunity or for more information, please contact info@courteenhall.co.uk or apply for the job via facebook.
WORK EXPERIENCE AND VOLUNTEERING
Conservation management and skills training and experience building
The Farmers Wildlife Advisory Group - South West (FWAG-SW) is a real friend to the military community. FWAG understands that your CV needs to have experience built in and will try and give you the roles you need to work towards the qualifications and roles you want to gain.
They routinely host resettling personnel on work experience or in their volunteer programmes at the skills level or in supervisory roles (once sufficient experience has been gained).
This opportunity is compatible with GRT.
If you want to know more, please contact Fiona directly: fiona@ruralink.org.uk
RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Fantastic Opportunity to take over an existing business
We have been approached by a gentleman who is actively seeking to start to hand over his business to the next generation.
He specifically wishes to consider ex-military personnel.
This opportunity would provide on-the-job training, business management mentoring and has plenty of scope for future expansion.
If you would like to work outdoors, with long hours in spring particularly, get in touch and we will see about an initial interview, one week trial period and take it from there.
This really is a fantastic opportunity.