Underkeeper

Underkeeper

On an underkeeper apprenticeship course, you’ll help participate in habitat management, pest and predator control and animal husbandry.

This job is found in the game and wildlife management sector, inside a shooting company. You’ll be expected to assist on shot days, maintain the estate, raise a surplus of gamebirds, and engage in conservation efforts to benefit flora and wildlife.

You may face harsh working conditions, be forced to work unsociable hours, and be compelled to work outdoors in all weather conditions. You’ll need to carefully follow instructions from the headkeeper or estate manager to help execute an estate’s management plan. Still, you’ll often be working alone and must rely on your own initiative.

You will graduate as a competent and qualified underkeeper with a broad range of practical gamekeeping skills, including using the required traps, insecticides, hand tools, power equipment, and firearms.

What you’ll learn

On an underkeeper apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

  • Maintain strong health and safety standards in the workplace to keep yourself and others safe.
  • Give urgent first-aid help.
  • Land management techniques such as burning, pesticide application, coppicing, hedgelaying, pond building, and planting should be used.
  • Recognise and treat common gamebird diseases promptly and efficiently by administering medication and seeking veterinarian assistance as required.
  • Care for gundogs by identifying and treating minor injuries and diseases.
  • Control pests and game predators through various integrated methods such as firearms, traps, and poisons.
  • Recognise key game, pests, predators, and vegetation species.
  • Make effective use of workplace-relevant digital technology such as Global Positioning Systems.
  • Select and use the appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Connect a trailer, 3-point linkages, and PTO-driven attachments.
  • Maintain strimmer, brushcutter, and chainsaw.
  • Demonstrate your ability to properly handle and operate a rifle and a shotgun.
  • Handle loads manually and safely, such as coppiced wood, gundogs, equipment, or wildlife.
  • Provide clear instructions to beaters/pickers and shoot visitors.
  • Prepare the game once the shoot is over.
  • Shoot a gun.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assesment comprises three assessment methods: 

  • Knowledge test
  • Professional Discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence 
  • Practical demonstration followed by questions and answers

Restrictions and requirements

You’ll need to:

  • have a full driving licence

You’ll need a firearms or shotgun certificate for some jobs.

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

  • Duration: 18 months
  • Level: 2 – Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Relevant school subjects: Geography, science
  • Potential salary upon completion: £20,000 per annum

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 2 Underkeeper Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.

Updated on January 25, 2024

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