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Graduate Trainee - Soft Fruit & Salad Production
As a Graduate Trainee, you’ll take an active, hands-on role across all areas of soft fruit and salad production. Through a 2-year structured training programme, you’ll rotate between departments gaining practical experience to build your technical knowledge, leadership skills, and commercial awareness.
As you develop in the role, you’ll begin to take ownership of specific projects and management of teams. Regular performance reviews will help track your progress and allow your training to be tailored to your skills, interests, and future goals.
Location:
Mereworth, Kent, England
Contract: Full-Time, Fixed Term Contract (2 years)
Accommodation: Available
Salary: dependent on experience and qualifications (expected range: £27,000 - £32,000)
We are a 5th generation family run group of business. Hugh Lowe Farms grows strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, L J Betts Ltd grows leafy salad crops, Blaise Plants propagates soft fruit plants, we also have arable crops and a vineyard. In total we farm over 1300ha, in this position you will have the opportunity to work across this group of business all located closely together in the Weald of Kent.
Your main areas of involvement will include
- Crop Production: Working closely with experienced growers to support all stages of the crop cycle, including soil preparation, planting and crop monitoring. You'll gain experience with both soft fruit and salad crops, learning how to manage them in open-field and protected environments. The role involves understanding plant growth requirements, monitoring performance, and contributing to crop care decisions.
- Irrigation & Fertigation: Supporting the management of water and nutrient delivery systems, monitoring plant requirements, and adjusting settings as needed.
- Pest & Disease Management: Engaging in crop walking, monitoring, and implementing integrated pest management practices under supervision.
- Machinery & Equipment: Operating and maintaining horticultural machinery and tools, including harvest platforms, tractors, and irrigation equipment (training provided).
- Harvest & Post-Harvest Handling: Participating in the planning, execution, and monitoring of harvest operations, ensuring quality and efficiency throughout.
- Packing Operations: Working in the packhouse to understand grading, labelling, and customer specifications. You’ll gain insight into chilled storage, product flow, traceability systems, and food safety protocols that ensure produce meets market standards.
- Quality Assurance & Compliance: Gaining experience with farm audits, traceability systems, food safety requirements, and quality control procedures.
- Team Operations: Working alongside and helping supervise seasonal teams, learning about labour planning, task allocation, and people management.
What you'll gain:
- Structured, on-the-job training across crop cycles, pest management, irrigation, and harvest
- Exposure to modern protected cropping systems and sustainable farming practices
- Direct involvement in day-to-day farm operations and decision-making
- Opportunities to assist with team leadership and seasonal labour coordination
- Mentorship from experienced growers and farm managers
- Career progression routes into management, technical, or agronomy roles
- A beautiful working environment in the Kent countryside
- On-site accommodation (subject to availability)
What we’re looking for:
- A degree (or equivalent) in Horticulture, Agriculture, Plant Science, or a related subject
- A genuine interest in fresh produce and commercial crop production
- Practical, hands-on approach with a willingness to learn and take on responsibility
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Clear communication and interpersonal skills, especially in a team setting
- Resilience and flexibility to work in a fast-paced environment
- Confidence to contribute ideas and solve problems on the ground
- A full driving licence is required
- Experience operating machinery is desirable (e.g. telehandlers, forklifts, excavators etc.)
Apply for this role by sending your CV and Cover Letter to: jobs@hlf.co.uk
