Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

• Location - Talgarth (Troed-yr-Harn Farm & other farms nearby)
• Tuition Time - 3 days per week WITHOUT work-placement OR 5 days per week WITH work-placement.
• Course Length - 1 year from January to December
• Minimum Age - 16 years (no maximum age)
• Entry Requirements - No formal grades required. Most work placements require students to drive and have access to a car. Complete an application form and short interview showing your passion and potential. 
• Course Costs - Fully funded with no cost to the student
• Kit Requirements - Warm waterproof clothing and shoes for working outdoors, and a pair of wellies.

COURSE INTRODUCTION

A year-long traineeship in Agroecology with land-based learning to help students transition into, or upgrade their skills in, the world of regenerative farming at Black Mountains College (BMC), in the Bannau Brycheiniog in Wales.

The world of farming and food production is changing. The challenges of climate change and fluctuating economic environments ask farmers to diversify for resilience. Agroecology is a strategy that could help us with these challenges. Informed by traditional global practices, agroecology explores the use of natural systems to promote good food for everyone, forever.

This course is ideal for students who want to further their experience in agroecology, agroforestry, soil science, and social and economic elements of regenerative approaches to land management and agriculture.

You will study in real-life training settings, within the Black Mountains on the border of Wales and England. Alongside your studies, you will undertake an optional work-based placement to enhance your employability skills and embed your learning. Gain a real and authentic experience about what it is to be a grower, livestock farmer or woodland manager. Learning from an experienced person on the land will give you confidence and valuable practical skills. 

In partnership with NPTC Group of Colleges, BMC has collaborated with the Apricot Centre and the Real Farming Trust to develop and deliver this new course, which is certified by City & Guilds. We are a part of TALC (The Agroecology Learning Collective). 

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WHAT WILL I LEARN?

The aim of this course is to train the next generation of farmers and growers in regenerative farming systems, this will aid farms and woodlands to support biodiversity whilst still producing local food and other products.

Our traineeship offers an authentic opportunity on a working farm, market garden or managed woodland and includes the following: 

• Introduction to Regenerative Agriculture
• Soil and Plant Ecology
• Business Planning and Financial Forecasting
• Agroforestry
• Work experience is integrated across the year for all students (0.5 days per week)
• An optional year-long farm placement is offered for those who would like additional work-based training (an additional 2 days per week). A placement is guaranteed for those who would like it.

and more!

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WHY STUDY AGROECOLOGY? 

The traineeship will prepare you to:

• Work in regenerative farming or small-holding type settings;
• Work in community supported agriculture or the circular food economy;
• Work in regenerative land-based systems;
• Progress into higher education courses such as our BA (Hons) in Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change.

All of our course tutors have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field, and you will be further supported by our partnerships with the Real Farming Trust and the Apricot Centre.

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WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENTS 

We have partnered with a wide variety of local farms, where your optional work experience will take place for an additional 2-days per week. These may include:  

• Troed yr Harn, Talgarth (Black Mountains College)
• Ciliau Farm, Erwood
• Lower Genffordd, Talgarth 
• Fern Verrow, Herefordshire
• Hill Farm, Powys
• FARMERS’ Welsh Lavender, Builth Wells 
• Llwynberried, Llanigon 
• Moor Park Garden, Crickhowell 
• New House Farm, Monmouth 
• Penpont Organic Farm, Brecon 
• Ty Mawr, Brecon 
• Wye Organic, Ross on Wye
• Greenfields Farm, Cusop
• 100% Hay @ Glanwye Farm

The integrated work-placement is optional, however if you require accommodation this is only available within a placement. Not all of the placements include accommodation, so please take a look at our website to identify which best meets your needs.

All trainees on placement are eligible for reimbursement of training related expenses (food, transport, accommodation) at £75 per week. Note that the cost of providing accommodation can be deducted from this amount.

This is a great opportunity to gain further practical, real-life training in an authentic environment whilst earning some money.

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*Courses may be subject to change without notice. Known as C&G Level 3 in Work Based Agriculture 

Application information

Read more and submit an application form via our website here.

Applications for a January 2025 start are now OPEN. 

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs