Cumbria Connect Apprentice x3

Cumbria Connect is one of the UK’s largest nature recovery programmes stretching from Penrith to Kendal in the eastern fells of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. 

The programme is a collaboration of farmers and land managers, landowners and nature recovery practitioners and includes the RSPB, Lowther, United Utilities and Natural England. Backed by £4.1 million funding from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, the programme aims to help breathe new life into one of England’s most cherished landscapes. Some 42,000 hectares - an area larger than Birmingham - will be enhanced and enriched through nature-friendly farming, the creation of new habitats and the restoration of existing ones while working in close collaboration with the local community.  

For further information about the Cumbria Connect programme, visit Cumbria Connect Homepage.

What's the role about?

Working as part of the Cumbria Connect project this apprenticeship will help you develop the skills for a career in land management with an emphasis on nature recovery and nature friendly livestock farming. At Cumbria Connect we are seeking to create opportunities for people to develop cross-over skills in nature recovery, land management and farming through pooling knowledge, skills harnessing our collective passion for our landscape.

Day to day you will be delivering, organising and supervising, land management, nature recovery, and livestock-based farming tasks. You will manage small scale projects and work collaboratively with partners. You will also become qualified and proficient in various practical and machinery skills, for example, ATV, Tractor, Livestock handling and First Aid.

This is a very practical hands-on role working across three sites, Haweswater, Lowther Estate and Low Beckside farm. This includes working with the three project host teams, RSPB, Lowther Estates and The Ernest Cook Trust. Each organisation and site will provide a variety of opportunities to experience and support a variety of approaches to nature recovery, farming and land management in response to change and new challenges.

Apprenticeships can be offered under at Levels 2 and 3 (possibly Level 4) and include: General Farm Worker, Livestock Technician, Countryside Worker/Ranger depending on individual candidate’s aspirations and fit for the role. The formal learning aspects will be delivered through a partner college, a minimum of 20% of the working week will involve off the job teaching/training depending on which course is offered.

At the end of this apprenticeship, you will have acquired a broad range of skills to support you in a successful career in a combination of nature recovery/land management/livestock management.

What we need from you:

Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Comfortable being part of volunteering days and working with the public from a range of backgrounds with the aim to being able to lead/co-lead work parties or knowledge sharing events during your apprenticeship.
• Passion for nature recovery and working with livestock.
• You will need to travel to and from the site daily, so a driving licence which is valid for use in the UK is essential.
• Grade 4 or above in GSCE English and Maths (However Apprentices without English and maths may be able to complete these within college but will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment).

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Basic knowledge and experience of farming/estate management or a passion for nature/wildlife.
• Comfortable working alone and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment.
• Proactively communicate through social media and media channels.

Additional information:

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening working so we will need someone who is able to be flexible.

This is an 18-month role for 37.5 hours per week. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from mid-July 2025. For further information please contact [email protected]

As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV, a cover letter and complete a short form.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and nature recovery sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.