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Agricultural Engineering – Level 3

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Agricultural engineering
  • Is this course for you?

    If you love science, technology, engineering, or information technology, then a career in land-based engineering could be for you. The skills and types of land-based engineering include diagnostics repair and testing, all in the context of diesel and petrol engines, equipment controlled by GPS technology and integrated into environmental information – a fantastic mix of innovation and problem solving. It’s not all about farming either, everything concerned with the upkeep and control of the countryside, forestry, sports grounds and open spaces involves the application of engineering solutions.

    We offer both full-time and apprenticeship routes for school leavers. Once you have completed the Level 3 qualification you will be able to work all over the world in a range of careers maintaining and repairing land-based machinery and technology.

    Modern agriculture is amazing and if you look more closely you will see things that will truly impress you. No longer is this an industry caught in a technological backwater.

  • Required qualifications

    You will need 5 GCSE’s at level 4 including a minimum of grade 4 in Maths and English to start a level 3 Engineering course.

  • What skills will I develop?

    As a land-based engineer, you’ll need to:

    • design, test and develop agricultural, construction and other off-road vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, loaders, dump trucks and off-road recreational vehicles
    • design, test and develop specialist equipment, such as ploughs, cultivators and sprayers
    • install and modify equipment and systems
    • plan and supervise the construction of farm buildings and associated structures, such as grain silos, greenhouses and controlled environments for livestock
    • advise on soil conservation measures
    • plan, supervise and manage the building of water conservation, irrigation and drainage systems
    • carry out environmental impact assessments – a process of predicting and evaluating the effects of an action (such as building a motorway) on the environment
    • prepare and present reports
    • conduct research
    • teach and lecture in further and higher education
    • provide technical support to dealers and customers
    • offer consultancy services to individuals and companies
    • provide emergency aid, e.g. help to restore electricity and water supplies and reconstruct buildings in the aftermath of wars or natural disasters.

  • Careers

    Working as a land-based engineer, you’ll use highly developed technical skills and a sound knowledge of science and technology to design, develop and install machinery used in the environmental and agricultural industries. You’ll also work on any issues relating to the functionality and efficiency of vehicles and equipment.

    Businesses in land-based engineering commonly use machinery for agricultural, ground care, horticulture, forestry, construction and sports turf purposes. As well as solving engineering problems, engineers also advise farmers and businesses on agricultural concerns, such as sustainable land use and irrigation.

    The three main areas within land-based engineering are:

    • parts
    • sales
    • servicing

  • Work experience

    Our dedicated Work Experience team are here to help and support you in finding a meaningful work experience opportunity.
    Recent studies have shown that employers consider work experience to be extremely desirable. Whilst qualifications are hugely important, employers also require candidates to have skills and experience necessary for the workplace.

    Preparing you for the working world is very important to us, so that you may be successful in your next step.

    Work experience placements provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills; have a better understanding of the industry you want to work in and give you an insight into what it is like to be employed. They can also be great fun and very rewarding and you may even be offered a great reference, a part–time job, holiday working hours, apprenticeships, or full-time jobs.

    Once you start your course you will be provided with further information about work experience programmes, but it is never too early for you to start thinking about work experience placements and finding an employer who will offer you an opportunity.

    Work experience is an opportunity for you to gain experience in your chosen career path in order to develop relevant skills. Equally, it also helps you to acquire employability skills, attitudes and behaviours that are essential for future employment. There will be an opportunity for you to reflect on your performance during work experience and you will receive some form of reference/feedback from the employer.

  • English and maths

    Though you will already have a level 4 in both Maths and English as part of the course, you will develop these skills to a much higher level for future progression into, HE, an apprenticeship or employment.

  • Other important information

    During this course you will be involved in many practical lessons, in which you will gain valuable experience of real engineering. For these lessons you will need to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), steel toe cap boots, overalls, and protective glasses

    You will train in our state-of-the-art Agri STEM building – home to cutting-edge industry software, 3D printers and much more – all of which you will not find elsewhere in the region! We’ve got excellent links with land-based engineering and manufacturing businesses, while our courses have been developed in conjunction with businesses to make sure we’re giving you the skills they are looking for.
    A growing industry, it’s estimated that engineering businesses in our region alone will need upward of 2,600 trained engineers every year for the next decade!

    Once qualified, you’ll be in demand!

  • Is this course for you?

    If you love science, technology, engineering, or information technology, then a career in land-based engineering could be for you. The skills and types of land-based engineering include diagnostics repair and testing, all in the context of diesel and petrol engines, equipment controlled by GPS technology and integrated into environmental information – a fantastic mix of innovation and problem solving. It’s not all about farming either, everything concerned with the upkeep and control of the countryside, forestry, sports grounds and open spaces involves the application of engineering solutions.

    We offer both full-time and apprenticeship routes for school leavers. Once you have completed the Level 3 qualification you will be able to work all over the world in a range of careers maintaining and repairing land-based machinery and technology.

    Modern agriculture is amazing and if you look more closely you will see things that will truly impress you. No longer is this an industry caught in a technological backwater.

  • Required qualifications

    You will need 5 GCSE’s at level 4 including a minimum of grade 4 in Maths and English to start a level 3 Engineering course.

  • What skills will I develop?

    As a land-based engineer, you’ll need to:

    • design, test and develop agricultural, construction and other off-road vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, loaders, dump trucks and off-road recreational vehicles
    • design, test and develop specialist equipment, such as ploughs, cultivators and sprayers
    • install and modify equipment and systems
    • plan and supervise the construction of farm buildings and associated structures, such as grain silos, greenhouses and controlled environments for livestock
    • advise on soil conservation measures
    • plan, supervise and manage the building of water conservation, irrigation and drainage systems
    • carry out environmental impact assessments – a process of predicting and evaluating the effects of an action (such as building a motorway) on the environment
    • prepare and present reports
    • conduct research
    • teach and lecture in further and higher education
    • provide technical support to dealers and customers
    • offer consultancy services to individuals and companies
    • provide emergency aid, e.g. help to restore electricity and water supplies and reconstruct buildings in the aftermath of wars or natural disasters.

  • Careers

    Working as a land-based engineer, you’ll use highly developed technical skills and a sound knowledge of science and technology to design, develop and install machinery used in the environmental and agricultural industries. You’ll also work on any issues relating to the functionality and efficiency of vehicles and equipment.

    Businesses in land-based engineering commonly use machinery for agricultural, ground care, horticulture, forestry, construction and sports turf purposes. As well as solving engineering problems, engineers also advise farmers and businesses on agricultural concerns, such as sustainable land use and irrigation.

    The three main areas within land-based engineering are:

    • parts
    • sales
    • servicing

  • Work experience

    Our dedicated Work Experience team are here to help and support you in finding a meaningful work experience opportunity.
    Recent studies have shown that employers consider work experience to be extremely desirable. Whilst qualifications are hugely important, employers also require candidates to have skills and experience necessary for the workplace.

    Preparing you for the working world is very important to us, so that you may be successful in your next step.

    Work experience placements provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills; have a better understanding of the industry you want to work in and give you an insight into what it is like to be employed. They can also be great fun and very rewarding and you may even be offered a great reference, a part–time job, holiday working hours, apprenticeships, or full-time jobs.

    Once you start your course you will be provided with further information about work experience programmes, but it is never too early for you to start thinking about work experience placements and finding an employer who will offer you an opportunity.

    Work experience is an opportunity for you to gain experience in your chosen career path in order to develop relevant skills. Equally, it also helps you to acquire employability skills, attitudes and behaviours that are essential for future employment. There will be an opportunity for you to reflect on your performance during work experience and you will receive some form of reference/feedback from the employer.

  • English and maths

    Though you will already have a level 4 in both Maths and English as part of the course, you will develop these skills to a much higher level for future progression into, HE, an apprenticeship or employment.

  • Other important information

    During this course you will be involved in many practical lessons, in which you will gain valuable experience of real engineering. For these lessons you will need to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), steel toe cap boots, overalls, and protective glasses

    You will train in our state-of-the-art Agri STEM building – home to cutting-edge industry software, 3D printers and much more – all of which you will not find elsewhere in the region! We’ve got excellent links with land-based engineering and manufacturing businesses, while our courses have been developed in conjunction with businesses to make sure we’re giving you the skills they are looking for.
    A growing industry, it’s estimated that engineering businesses in our region alone will need upward of 2,600 trained engineers every year for the next decade!

    Once qualified, you’ll be in demand!

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Unfortunately we haven’t been able to find any upcoming course instances. Please check back at a later date or email the enquiries team at enquiries@southstaffs.ac.uk for more information.