Vineyard apprentice (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

  Ridgeview Wine Estate (http://www.Ridgeview.co.uk)

  Ditchling, West Sussex, England

With exciting plans in for the future, Ridgeview are pleased to be able to offer a vineyard apprentice position based at our award winning vineyard in Sussex. This role will be under the direction of our experienced and well regarded vineyard manager who has been managing our pioneering sparkling wine vines for nearly 20 years.  

About Us

We are an international award winning, family ran winery, based near Ditchling in Sussex. We are focussed on producing the highest quality, minimal intervention, traditional method sparkling wine. We have won many accolades over the years including IWSC 2018 International Winemaker of the Year, IWSC 2018 Best English Wine Producer and four times winner of UK Vineyard Association Best Wine Trophy. A video introducing us is here

We recognise that our employees are at the core of our success and encourage everyone to be best that they can be through celebrating and encouraging the uniqueness that every individual can bring. We welcome likeminded people to join us as we continue our pioneering journey in the English Sparking Wine industry.

About the role

This role reports into the Vineyard Manager. It will be the apprenticeship’s job to assist with all viticultural aspects of the business. The apprenticeship training be the Level 3 crop technician (viticulture) apprenticeship provided by Plumpton College. Duties include :

• vine pruning and tying down.
• Trellis maintenance
• Canopy management.
• Assisting with frost prevention during the spring.
• General vineyard maintenance

 

What you will need to be a successful applicant :

• An active interest in viticulture however the apprenticeship must allow the individual to acquire substantive new skills
• Experience of working in an outdoor environment
• Basic IT skills
• Car driver
• Have own Right to Work in the UK plus have been resident in the UK/EEA for at least the last three years
• GCSE in English and Maths or able to achieve a level 2 Maths and English qualification

 Personal characteristics

• Resilience to work outdoors in all weathers ; an individual who thrives in an outdoor environment
• Self-motivated and able to work independently, with a degree of flexibility key times of the season e.g. spring frost.

 Additional requirements

• Due to the location of the business plus the need to visit other vineyards, the ability to drive is required
• Due to the manual nature of this role and the requirement to work on/with machinery, an occupational health assessment will be required. There will also be elements of lone working. This role is classed as safety critical with night working also a requirement during frost watch.
• A 3 month probation period will apply to this role

 What we will give you :

• The opportunity to work within an award-winning wine business as part of a pioneering, proactive, dynamic and friendly team.
• Minimum Real Living Wage pay for those aged 18+
• Opportunities for your own continuous development with a focus on being the best you want to be
• Higher than statutory annual leave
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program.
• Cycle to work scheme ( after qualifying period )
• Tax free charity giving opportunities via payroll
• Varied and well attended social events throughout the year
• Excellent staff discounts

Hours

• 37.5 core hours per week with flexibility to cover peak periods
• Hours to be agreed according to business requirements
• Weekend working and frost watch night work will be required

How to apply

Please apply via our website  https://www.ridgeview.co.uk/jobs/

 If you require additional support to apply, please email [email protected]

Declarations

Ridgeview has committed to the decision-making strategies of B-Corporation and are currently underway in our accreditation process.  The high standards of B-Corp include transparent Governance, promoting sustainable and profitable working practices, supporting our local and industry community along with providing our staff, customers, suppliers and stakeholders with a purpose as a force for good.  Ridgeview measure our performance against these standards and work to continuously improve the ethics of our business.  https://bcorporation.uk/about-b-corps

Ridgeview Wine Estate has a fundamental and passionately held commitment to ensuring that our workforce truly represents society, encouraging everyone to be best that they can be through celebrating and encouraging the uniqueness that every individual can bring through diversity.  We welcome all to join us on this inclusive journey.  We are proud to be Disability Confident (Committed) https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

 

 

Real Living Wage minimum https://www.livingwage.org.uk/what-real-living-wage

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