Apprenticeship training course
Underkeeper (level 2)
Participate in habitat management, pest and predator control and animal husbandry in support of a shooting enterprise.
- Qualification level
-
2
Equivalent to GCSE. - Typical duration
- 18 months
- Apprenticeship category
- Agriculture, environmental and animal care
- Maximum funding
-
£7,000
Maximum amount government will fund
for apprenticeship training. - Skills
-
Skills an apprentice will learn
- Maintain good standards of health and safety, keeping self and others safe in the workplace.
- Administer emergency first aid.
- Use land management techniques such as burning, pesticide application, coppicing, hedgelaying, pond creation and planting.
- Recognise and deal with common gamebird diseases through administering medication and seeking veterinary assistance as appropriate, in a speedy and timely manner.
- Undertake the care of gundogs through identifying and treating minor injuries and ailments.
- Use a variety of integrated methods to control pests and predators of game, including firearms, traps and poisons.
- Identify relevant species of game, pests, predators and vegetation.
- Use digital technology relevant to the workplace effectively, including Global Positioning Systems and the responsible use of social media.
- Work safely and carry out risk assessments for all practical land management activities undertaken such as tree felling, hedgelaying, burning, pond creation, pesticide application and planting.
- Select and use the appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Carry out pre-use safety checks on ATVs, tractors, chainsaws, strimmers and brushcutters.
- Undertake pre-use maintenance of tractors and ATVs.
- Operate and ride/ drive tractors, both sit in and sit-astride ATVs, and with a trailer or implement.
- Hitch a trailer and PTO driven attachments.
- Carry out maintenance of strimmers, brushcutters and chainsaws.
- Cross-cut timber using a chainsaw.
- Fell and process trees up to 380mm.
- Operate strimmers and brushcutters safely.
- Set fox snares according to the Code of Best Practice.
- Demonstrate safe handling and use of a rifle and a shotgun.
- Manually handle loads safely such as moving coppiced wood, gundogs, equipment or game.
- Care of working dogs, to include fitness, routine care and handling in the field.
- Communicate instructions clearly to beaters/pickers and shoot guests.
- Prepare game at the end of the shoot.
- Capable of accurate rifle shooting.
Full information on Underkeeper (level 2) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.