Agriculture jobs in Harpenden

Role: Instructor – Agriculture

Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £27,717 and £32,515 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, People’s Pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role:

We are currently seeking an Agriculture Instructor to join our Land-based Education department at The Bedford College Group.

As an Instructor, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Practical Teaching & Learner Development - Deliver high-quality practical instruction across Agriculture, Horticulture and Land & Wildlife programmes, developing learners’ vocational skills, knowledge and competence while meeting individual learning needs.
• Animal, Crop & Land-Based Care - Participate in the routine husbandry and care of farm animals, horticultural and agricultural crops, and demonstration areas while modelling high standards of professional practice.
• Assessment & Learning Resources - Develop practical teaching schemes and learning materials, assess learner competence, provide constructive feedback, and contribute to internal verification in line with awarding body requirements.
• Practical Areas, Resources & Health and Safety - Oversee practical teaching areas, maintain equipment and inventories, ensure facilities are safe and well maintained, undertake risk assessments, and work with technical staff to support effective operations.
• Collaboration, Engagement & Professional Standards - Support marketing and student recruitment, participate in team activities, manage student conduct appropriately, and promote safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and continuous professional development.

About you:

• Land-Based Qualifications & Practical Expertise - Holds a Level 3 qualification in Agriculture or a related subject, with tractor and forklift competency certificates, English and Maths qualifications, and recent practical experience across the land-based sector.
• Animal, Crop & Industry Knowledge - Experienced in working with farm animals, horticultural and arable crops, with strong knowledge of animal husbandry, current UK land-based practices, relevant legislation, machinery and safe working procedures.
• Learner Support & Practical Instruction - Able to demonstrate practical tasks to individuals and groups, support high-quality learning experiences, and create a welcoming environment that helps students develop their skills and confidence.
• Organisation, Communication & Teamwork - Self-motivated and able to manage workloads with minimal supervision, maintain accurate records, use standard IT applications, communicate confidently, and contribute positively to a collaborative team.
• Safeguarding, Safety & Flexibility - Committed to safeguarding, equality and diversity, professional boundaries and health and safety, with a willingness to continuously develop skills, work flexibly, and travel across TBCG locations as required.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: 06 November 2026

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.