Farm secretary
Administration

How to become a farm secretary

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly
• training with a professional body

College

You may find it useful to do a college course in a relevant subject like a:

• Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping
• Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping and Accounts
• Level 2 Diploma in Business Administration
• Level 3 Certificate in Accounting

College (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a business administrator advanced apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Direct application

You could apply directly for jobs. Employers will usually ask for GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or equivalent qualifications. You'll also need experience of office administration and knowledge of bookkeeping.

Other routes

You could take a training course through a professional body like The Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators. These courses can be done whether you're working in the farming industry or are looking for a change of career.

More info

Career tips An understanding of farming or rural life will be helpful, particularly if you've lived or worked on a farm before. Further information You can find out more about working as a farm secretary through The Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• administration skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work on your own
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be flexible and open to change
• excellent verbal communication skills
• customer service skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you'll do

Day to day

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• using tailor-made agricultural business software
• keeping records of livestock and crops, to help with planning future crop and stock levels
• applying for government grants and subsidies
• preparing farm business accounts and tax returns
• dealing with wages and personnel records
• costing, ordering and paying for equipment and supplies
• typing, filing and other general administrative tasks
• keeping up to date with farming, health and safety and tax laws

Working environment

You could work on a farm or from home.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience, you could become a farm manager. You could also move into other types of rural business, like stables or countryside management, or use your business and administrative skills in other industries.