The Embercombe Apprenticeship

A year long bespoke learning programme

The next intake of apprenticeships will be in Sept 2014 with applications invited from April. Read about the experience the apprentices are having here on our blog  and meet them here

It is four years now since Johannes Moeller designed and proposed a framework for the Embercombe Apprenticeship scheme. Since then we have had fourteen apprentices  journey through this year-long programme and it has become one of our most valued and profound offerings. The apprenticeships at Embercombe serve to support women and men who strongly desire to use their gifts and passion towards the emergence of 'a truly sustainable world'.

The apprenticeship at Embercombe is an extended leadership programme for people who imagine a life of making a difference. It is an adventure and quite tough at times. Almost every apprentice who has ever come to us has discovered that walking the 'twin trail' of leadership is never easy, sometimes frightening, frequently testing, and ultimately rewarding. A strong camaraderie develops between the apprentices as friendships are formed which may last a lifetime, they learn to surf the turbulent waves of our multi-faceted social enterprise, and they dream awake a life of their choosing.

During the year the apprentices:

• have monthly sessions with a personal coach
• spend 5 days on a self-designed adventurous mission of their choice together with their colleagues
• attend Embercombe's iconic 'Journey' programme
• attend monthly learning sets with Mac Macartney
• take responsibility for a key area of Embercombe's work and develop it further (see below)
• have access to a psychotherapist for deeper personal work
• train in wildcraft skills throughout the year
• join Embercombe's Wider Team' and attend the quarterly Wider Team Days
• work alongside volunteers, staff and members of the public
• help to support the short term volunteer community
• assist and sometimes lead aspects of our courses
• host several of our Friends Working Weekends
• choose  a self-funded learning week
• ….. and much, much, more besides.

We are committed to doing all we can to raise £20 per week throughout the year to be given as pocket money to each successful apprentice, however, this money is not guaranteed. We strongly recommend that each successful applicant independently makes an effort to raise the money they need for the year ahead of the start date. This way, if our efforts are unsuccessful or only partially successful, you will be prepared and able to enjoy the freedom that a few extra pounds can bring.

If you like the idea of living communally at a unique and successful social enterprise for a year, and diving deep into a journey of learning that has the capacity to change your life forever, then this could be for you. We are looking for people who are determined, passionate, practical, physically robust, intellectually adventurous, psychologically resilient, and spiritually curious. If you're interested please sign up for our newsletter and keep an eye on our Facebook page. We'll be publishing the roles for the next intake very soon.

You can apply to focus on our land-based learning work, growing food at Embercombe, site management or the kitchen. All apprentices, like all other members of the Embercombe team, will also focus on their personal development throughout their time here.

Site Management Apprenticeship

Embercombe is a vibrant and dynamic site and there is a large amount of day to day site management and development required. The Site Management Apprentice will develop their leadership qualities in the context of the work that is needed to keep the site running. The programme of work is organised so that there are opportunities to work alongside the Site Manager, or with volunteers or alone if the task allows. During the year there will be opportunities to develop and gain new practical skills (for example you will gain a chainsaw ticket), however, it is not a vocational apprenticeship in a traditional sense. There is a greater focus on the development of leadership skills.

There will be times when you are the main contact for visitors on the site and you will be expected to step up and take charge if a situation arises. The Site Team is in service to the work at Embercombe and the successful applicant will be expected to embrace this concept in their approach and attitude to the work that at times can feel in the background to the many other things we do here.

Site Management Apprentice – Job Description

1. To maintain and improve site infrastructure.
2. To undertake a programme of personal development
3. To work alongside volunteers, staff and members of the public
4. To ensure the site is safe for all who visit
5. To help hold the volunteer community
6. To take responsibility as the acting Site Manager when required
7. To attend and co-host Friends Working Weekends
8. To facilitate the delivery of courses by providing logistical support
9. To assist in the the delivery of courses where appropriate
10. To contribute generally to community life at Embercombe.

Kitchen Apprenticeship

The kitchen lies at the heart of Embercombe where daily meals are shared by all on site and the produce from our land is shaped into delicious, nutritious, colourful and inventive meals to nurture all who eat here.

The catering apprentice focusses on the daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms of the kitchen, working closely with Nick Godwin, the kitchen manager, in developing new methods and ideas, assessing priorities, and liaising with those engaged with the garden. She or he has the opportunity  to gain an understanding and experience of running a professional kitchen and catering for large numbers of people.

While the kitchen is well held by external cooks during programmes, outside of these times the apprentice holds the overview of planning the lunch menu for the week for all volunteers and staff, taking advantage of what is abundant in the garden and creatively utilising any left-overs. She or he initiates and oversees the preserving, pasturising, drying, processing and freezing of excess crops. When we have periods of programmes running consecutively the apprentice  also cooks for parts of these, sometimes covering breakfasts.

As with all the apprenticeships, there needs to be flexibility around working hours and time taken off in lieu.

She or he will gain competence in bread baking, organising this activity each week as well as sprouting, non-dairy milk making, initiating the growing and drying of herbs for tea and utilising wild foods and “weeds”.

With so many people of all ages passing through the kitchen during the year, this apprentice has a vital role in maintaining and developing the ethos of the kitchen and will have the opportunity to develop their teaching and facilitation skills working with a broad range of course participants and volunteers with the preparation and cooking of our food.

There is huge scope within this role for the creativity that food inspires.

Time will also be spent working alongside volunteers, other apprentices and paid staff preparing for
courses with general maintenance and cleaning.

Land-based Learning Apprenticeship

Since 2008, Embercombe has been developing Education programmes for children and young people of all ages, delivering a wide range of courses here on our 50 acre site. This apprenticeship offers an opportunity for applicants who are interested in developing skills in planning and delivering learning experiences where the land is the inspiration for·the curriculum.

This apprenticeship is for those who are passionate about instigating change through bringing children and young people into a positive relationship with our world.
 
As well as being part of the team delivering the content of courses, the apprentice takes a holistic view of running education programmes and assists with:
·      programme planning,
·      programme administration,
·      cooking, cleaning and gardening on the programmes.

For more on what to expect from this apprenticeship, please see the Education pages of our website.

Garden Apprenticeship

At Embercombe a large area of land is under cultivation. We have orchards, a forest garden and a soft fruit area;   we aim to produce sufficient fruit and veg to feed all the people attending courses and our volunteers and staff.
Our gardens offer course participants of all ages to participate in every aspect of the process, from seed to table, in ways that are appropriate to their age and the nature of the programme.

Our garden Apprentice must have some experience of growing food and general land work. This is not an apprenticeship specifically to learn about gardening, although a great deal of experience will be gained.  We are looking for applicants who would like to develop their facilitation and leadership skills, working with a wide range of groups engaged in gardening and land-based activities.

This apprenticeship works closely with our Head of Land Based Learning, Jo Clarke and Embercombe Gardener, Daniel Burston.

The next call for applicants will be in May 2014