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

This is an 8-week volunteer trainee/Intern opportunity in urban food growing.

Gain Valuable Introductory Experience for In-Demand Skills.

Are you passionate about sustainability, urban farming, and making a difference in your community? Join us in revolutionising food production with a hands-on opportunity to learn, grow, and innovate while exploring a potential new career pathway. Gain real-world experience that will enhance your resume and open doors in a growing green industry.

About the Role

You’ll play a key role in growing crops on our urban community farm by choosing one activity area to focus on:

• Raised Beds and Composting
• Mushroom Cultivation
• Hydroponic Growing

Each activity offers invaluable experience in sustainable food production, supplying food to local schools, restaurants, and shops.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking individuals who:

• Are passionate about closing the loop on food waste and sustainability.
• Can commit a minimum of 6 hours per week for 8 weeks.
• Are ready to help make this project a success so it can be replicated widely.

What’s in It for You?

• Valuable experience in sustainable agriculture and urban farming.
• A unique chance to explore career pathways in a growing green industry.
• Gain resume-worthy skills in a competitive field.
• Be part of an innovative circular economy project that pioneers zero-waste, low-carbon food production.
• Lunch and travel expenses included.

General Tasks & Learning in Activity Areas:

You will be allocated to ONE activity area for the full duration of our 8 week program.

Raised Beds & Composting:

• Soil basics and composting
• Propagation and plant maintenance
• Companion planting
• No dig theory

MON OR WED, 10AM - 1PM, E9 5ND

Mushroom Cultivation:

• Mushroom basics
• Mixing, incubation fruiting
• Harvesting and maintenance

MON or FRI, 10AM - 4PM, E14 0SP

Hydroponic Growing:

• Vertical tower growing
• Propagation and plant maintenance
• Water-efficient growing without soil

MON or FRI, 11AM - 5PM, E9 5ND - please note that the day may complete at any time between 3-5pm, depending on the tasks available.

Other requirements:

• Committed and passionate
• Good communication and team working skills
• Able to take the initiative where necessary
• A passion for the environment an advantage

The right person will benefit from working in a friendly, professional, inclusive environment as part of a dynamic, growing company with a strong social and environmental ethos.

Please note that due to the large number of responses we receive, we may close applications earlier than advertised.

Optional AQA Level 1 Accreditation

If you’d like to achieve AQA Level 1 food-growing accreditation in your chosen area, here’s what’s required:

• Commit to 3-6 hours per week for 12 weeks (not 8).
• Complete short theory modules and submit worksheets to deepen your knowledge (study modules are not included in the volunteer option)
• Assessment for certification - carried out on-site during your regular work sessions. (Not included in the volunteer option).
• A fee applies for this trainee option - it is not free and expenses are not included.  However, we can offer sliding-scale bursary funding for low & no-wage applicants.

Enquire on application.

About the company

We are a dynamic, growing company with a strong social and environmental ethos. MAD LEAP combines sustainable food growing, waste management and training expertise and is passionate about transforming waste into value, applying creative thinking in solving complex global challenges for local communities and businesses.

Application information

Email ana@madleap.co.uk

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs