About
Employer Description
We are a membership organisation who represent plant breeders in the UK. Our members range from large multi nationals to independent SMEs. Our activities range from Royalty collection on protected varieties, Trials operations to see new varieties through various stages of testing to ensure latest genetics reach the National Recommended List, and lobbying to ensure UK policy is supporting UK farming and UK food production. Our activity supports the introduction cutting edge of plant breeding technologies to ensure the very best genetics are available to help with world food security, climate change and consumer health.
Main description
We are a membership organisation who represent plant breeders in the UK. Our members range from large multi nationals to independent SMEs. We are currently looking for a Trials Coordinator apprentice to join and learn within our team.
Main Duties:
• Sending trial inspection reports to various crop groups.
• Issuing contracts between BSPB and trial operators
• Basic Trials training and exposure – with visits to breeding company learning why we run VCU trials
• Learn how to request operator invoices
• Crop Tours with VCU team – includes an overnight stay
• Attend NIAB Open Days – insight to projects going on within NIAB which covers pre-breeding
• Attend Cereals Event, talking to customers, visiting different stands understanding the industry
• Breeder placement –trial visit of different crops
• Procedure Development Group meetings for various crops throughout the year.
• Breeder placement – (RAGT) to learn and be involved with a breeding program.
• Assist with preparing sowing lists and distributing to different groups
• Follow a crop from trial concept, inclusion into trial and to trial harvest. To select a crop and follow the process it takes from application through to listing.
• Trials design – learn how trials are created for different species. E.g. comparing maize trial design and winter barley designs and how they differ to other crops such as winter wheat.
• Data handling – AHDB, BioSS and NIAB are the three data handling operators currently used for different crop species.
• AHDB – who are they, what do they do and how are the VCU trials linked to the Recommended Lists.
• PGRO - who are they, what do they do and how are the VCU trials linked to the Descriptive Lists
• NIAB – trial operators, seed handling operator, sub-contracted by BSPB for crops such as herbage, maize, sugar beet and WOSR.
• Cross training through BSPB departments – Farm Saved Seed, Communications, Licensing, Accounts
• Note and minute taking – to complete a course and start taking minutes of one or two crop group meetings.
• Crop Group Meetings – attend as many as possible for the most up to date information and any changes happening.
• Apprentice would also attend all team building days, staff meetings and ad hoc team training
• Cereal crop inspection course to complete
• First Aid training – 1 day course.
• Health and Safety Training
• Fire Training
Entry requirements
GCSE Maths and English at grades 4 or above - Essential
An interest in Agriculture, Plants, Farming background or countryside interest - Preferable
Skills required
Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Administrative skills
Number skills
Team working
Training to be Provided
The learner will be studying the Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard qualification.
Day release to West Suffolk College.
Functional skills will be studied if equivalent qualifications are not held.
Things to consider
Transport to the office is difficult unless the candidate is local or has their own transport. The train station is not walkable. Office hours are mainly 8 - 4pm with an hour for lunch.
Future Prospects
There is an opportunity to join the team full time at the end of the apprenticeship due to succession planning
Closing Date
The closing date for this job offer is on 10/05/2024
Salary
£ 15652 per year
Location
This job is located in Ely,, Cambs
How to Apply
About West Suffolk College
West Suffolk College is an ambitious vocational and academic College, with a stunning main campus set in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. We are committed to providing outstanding education to all our students.
