Underkeeper
Level 2 · IntermediateAgriculture, environmental and animal care 1.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
An underkeeper apprenticeship trains you to assist in managing game birds, wildlife habitats, and country estates under the supervision of a head keeper. You will learn how to rear pheasants, partridges, or other game, manage wildlife and predators within the law, and maintain habitat so that wildlife can thrive. It is a hands-on outdoor career that can lead to a head keeper or wildlife management role.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Game bird rearing, releasing, and feeding programmes
Lawful, humane predator and pest control methods
Habitat and woodland management for game and wildlife
Firearm and shotgun safety, licensing, and handling
Dog handling and working with trained gundogs
Animal health, welfare, and disease recognition
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Feed and water game birds in rearing pens daily
Carry out lawful predator control humanely as directed by the keeper
Maintain release pens, feeders, and shooting drives
Walk the beat to monitor wildlife and identify predators
Assist with driven shoots and picking-up days
Carry out countryside maintenance such as hedge and ditch work
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 2 (Intermediate) - roughly GCSE level. Often open with few or no formal qualifications - a strong first step. Some employers ask for a couple of GCSEs.
What’s next: Typically leads on to a Level 3 (Advanced) apprenticeship.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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