Horticulture Apprentices with Sportsturf and Agriculture

The Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens    welcomed the first ever land-based apprenticeship class last week.  Ten horticulture apprentices from across Ireland completed their first week of block training and look forward to the two-year programme.  Each apprentice is an employee of an approved horticulture employer, and will complete 80% of their learning on the job with 20% block learning with Teagasc across the 24-month programme.  Upon completion of the Horticulture Apprenticeship, the graduate will hold a QQI Higher Level 6 Certificate in Horticulture.  

Teagasc Head of Education Dr Anne-Marie Butler welcomed the apprentices and highlighted the significance of this milestone achievement.  She said; “The new apprenticeships led by Teagasc offer a new and powerful learning opportunity for learners.  We are delighted to work with SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office to deliver new land-based apprenticeships.  We look forward to the launch of the sportsturf and agriculture apprenticeships and wish all apprentices and their employers well.”

Teagasc look forward to welcoming the first sportsturf apprentices this month with the programme based in Teagasc Kildalton Horticulture College.   Demand for this course has been very high and applications for the 2023 intake is now closed with the course fully subscribed.  

The Level 7 Farm Manager Apprenticeship programme will welcome its first cohort of apprentices on 4^th December. Applications for this course remain open.  For further information check out the Generation Apprenticeship portal Click here ...  or Teagasc website Click here ...

Apprentices will engage in on-the-job training with a SOLAS Approved Employer during the two-year apprenticeship programme. Off-the-job training will take place at Kildalton College and Teagasc Moorepark in 3-5 day blocks, supported by online learning. 

To be eligible for the level 7 Farm Manager Apprenticeship programme, an applicant must: 

• Be directly employed by a SOLAS Approved Employer 
• Have a minimum qualification of a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (or equivalent or higher award), or anyone working in the agriculture sector for 2 years full-time with the relevant experience and a NFQ Level 6 or higher qualification
• Complete the Apprentice Registration Form with SOLAS

Upon completion of the Farm Management Apprenticeship programme, the Apprentice will hold a QQI Level 7 Bachelor of Science in Professional Sustainable Farm Management.

The Level 6 Farm Technician Apprenticeship, based in Teagasc Clonakilty College, will welcome apprentices on December 13^th.  

Applications for this course remain open.  For further information check out the Generation Apprenticeship portal Click here ...  or Teagasc website  Click here ... 

Apprentices will engage in on-the-job training with a SOLAS Approved Employer during the two-year apprenticeship programme. Off-the-job training will take place across the two year programme supported by online learning. Upon completion of the Level 6 Farm Technician Apprenticeship, the Apprentice will hold a Higher Level Certificate in Technical Farm Operations (NFQ Level 6).