Trainee Role Description

1. Introduction

The Grazing Advice Partnership (GAP) with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) as its lead-partner has been awarded a grant of £261,000 to set-up a mix of placements over the next two years.The next round of placements start in March / April 2012 and preceded by a two-day residential induction programme.

The aim is to address the decline in traditional skills associated with livestock handling and conservation (extensive) grazing that would have been passed on within the family but now increasingly depend upon an ageing and predominantly male workforce. These skills underpin the management of much of Britain’s wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage.

Each trainee will be based with a different independent host who will be responsible for providing a mix of practical working experience and skills training. The hosts are widely spread throughout the country and range from independent farmers and farm estates to local wildlife trusts and local authority led grazing schemes.

2. Entry Requirements

As the requirements of different hosts will vary considerably, each will be responsible for selecting the person who they feel will be best for their situation. It is important therefore that you study the summary information for each placement as your background and interests may be more suited to some situations more than others.

However, there are a number of essential entry requirements for all trainee placements and no-one will be interviewed for a specific placement unless they meet the following:

Over 18 years of age
Full and current driving-licence
Basic IT skills and literacy
Committed and enthusiastic
Strong desire to work with animals
Reasonable level of fitness to cope with outdoor and manual work
Willing to work outside in all weathers – protective clothing provided
Willing to work weekends and/or unsocial hours if required eg. for lambing
Strong desire to work in conservation land-management
Ability to work in a team and act on own initiative
Ability to relate to a wide range of individuals and groups
Willing to take advantage of further training opportunities eg operating machinery
Willing to travel for short periods to see other schemes and/or project

Applications for 2012 placements open 22nd December and close on 20th January 2012..

3. Practical skills and experience

Although each placement will offer a different repertoire of specific skills, all placements will cover the following core areas:

Health and safety in the farm workplace
Animal welfare
Animal husbandry including handling and moving
Conservation grazing and habitat management
General land management

4. Other placement- based activities

As well as their practical skills and experience, all trainees will be expected to undertake the following activities whilst on their placement:

Diary of progress, achievements and lessons learnt – this may be illustrated
Personal project to be advised by GAP and the placement host.
Short visit to other grazing schemes or projects – one week

5. Induction programme

All trainees starting within a given year will collectively attend a two-day residential induction course. This will normally immediately precede the start of their placement and will provide a common introduction to livestock handling and conservation grazing systems. The full costs of attending this induction course will be met by GAP/RBST.

6. Bursary

Trainees will receive an educational bursary. This will be £10,500 for the 9 months of the placement. As it is an educational bursary for training purposes it is exempt from tax and National Insurance payments. The purpose of the bursary is to cover the cost of trainees living expenses, enabling them to carry out their training for the duration of the placement. The cost of the two day induction course including travel will be provided in addition to the bursary. Trainees will also be given a set of protective clothing which GAP/RBST will provide.

7. Personal training plan

It is important that all trainees feel that they are benefiting from their placement through the skills and experiences that they acquire. As trainees will start with different types and levels of skills and experience, all trainees will draw up their own personal training plan with the placement host so that their progress can be evaluated and recorded.

8. Reporting progress

Trainees will be required to provide a short written progress report at the end of the first month – the probationary period – and at regular intervals in their placements.

9. Mentoring

Whilst it is expected that trainees will raise any concerns or issues in the first instance with their placement host, all trainees will be assigned their own Mentor who may be contacted at any time during normal working hours by email or telephone and who will make at least one on-site visit to the trainee per quarter.

10. Publicity and promotion

Every trainee is an ‘ambassador’ for the project and for the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future programme. All trainees should therefore be willing to participate in any publicity or promotional opportunities that may arise, be it an interview for a local paper, local radio or television. Permission should be obtained from GAP staff before agreeing to give any interviews. Copies of any publicity material should always be kept. HLF-branded t-shirts, banners etc are available free of charge.

11. LANTRA Accreditation

It is expected that the traineeship will qualify for certificated LANTRA accreditation but this can only be given if the full term of the traineeship is completed. It is also expected that the two-day induction course will also receive certificated LANTRA accreditation.

12: Individual Placement Summaries

A maximum of two placements can be applied for by each applicant. In the initial application form you will need to clearly indicate which placement/s you are applying for, if you have selected two then you will need to state which one would be your preference. Only applications by email will be accepted

Closing date 20th Janaury 2012.

To down load application form click here

Full details for each 2012 placement can be viewed by clicking on the links below: