Role: Practical Instructor – Agriculture
Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden
Salary/Benefits: Salary up to £31,415 per annum (Pro-Rata) DOE and Qualifications, People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.
Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Practical Instructor in Agriculture to join our Land and Environment department at The Bedford College Group.
As a Practical Instructor, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
- Practical Instruction & Student Support – Deliver hands-on training in agricultural machinery, animal care, and crop management, ensuring sessions meet individual learning needs and vocational standards.
- Curriculum Delivery & Assessment – Develop practical teaching schemes, assess learner competence, provide feedback, and contribute to internal verification and awarding body requirements.
- Resource & Area Management – Prepare and maintain practical learning materials and equipment, ensuring all workspaces are clean, safe, and hazard-free in compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Team Collaboration & Events – Work closely with technical staff, support marketing and recruitment events, and participate in team meetings to contribute to departmental goals.
- Compliance & Professional Development – Uphold safeguarding, equality, and health and safety standards, while actively engaging in training and development to maintain professional effectiveness.
About you:
- Qualifications & Certifications – Holds a Level 3 qualification in Agriculture or a related land-based subject, with tractor and forklift competency certificates, and GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
- Practical Experience & Industry Knowledge – Brings recent hands-on experience in the land-based sector, including working with agricultural machinery, farm animals, and crops, with strong knowledge of husbandry and UK industry practices.
- Health, Safety & Compliance – Demonstrates a solid understanding of safe working practices, relevant legislation, and health and safety requirements, with a commitment to safeguarding and professional boundaries.
- Skills & Professionalism – Highly organised, self-motivated, and capable of delivering high-quality learning experiences. Skilled in communication, teamwork, and using IT for documentation and record-keeping.
- Flexibility & Commitment – Holds a valid driving licence and is willing to travel and work flexibly across locations. Committed to continuous learning, equality, and promoting the College’s values and reputation.
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: 07 July 2025
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 Shuttleworth College
Shuttleworth College is set within the stunning location of Old Warden Park, near Biggleswade. It's a specialist land-based college, offering agricultural and environmental education, alongside animal sciences, equine studies and outdoor adventure all delivered within acres of parkland, farmland, lakes and woodland.
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.
