**Level 4 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological System Design**

**FREE for participants**, made possible by Devon County Council, Skills Bootcamps and Train 4 Tomorrow, the Apricot Centre @Huxhams Cross Farm presents the **Level 4 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological System Design: Farming and Business Practice to help people in growing and farming to upskill and implement agroecological regenerative design methods** on their land, in their jobs or business, and upcoming projects and prospects. Skills Bootcamps are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
A Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) is beneficial but not required for the Level 4. You do not need to have completed a Level 3 to apply for the Level 4. If you are unsure which course would be the best for you, please do get in touch.
**DATES: Fridays between 2 May - 25 July 2025**
**APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!**
*N.B.* *We are only running one Level 4 Skills Bootcamp this year.*

Apply now for the Level 4 Skills Bootcamp

Funded by the Department of Education and Devon County Council, the Apricot Centre will be hosting its first Level 3 Skills Bootcamps in 2025.

This course is certified as a Level 4 equivalent by Ofqual and Crossfields as a certificate in Agroecological System Design as part of the Governments Skills for Life - Skills Bootcamps Scheme.

Designed for people 19+ to 103 years old! We welcome applications from all diverse backgrounds and life experiences. You must be Self Employed or be in PAYE employment. If employer funded your employer will be asked to contribute 10-30% of the cost of the course. Please contact Jasmine if this may hold back your application as we have bursaries available. Please note that when applying as an individual or self-employed, you must be a resident of Devon. If you are sponsored by your employer, your employer’s registered address has to be in Devon.

THIS SHORT COURSE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY WILL HELP YOU:

- Progress your career in regenerative farming;

- Develop a further understanding of applying agroecological and regenerative principles through a Permaculture lens;

- Develop regenerative land based systems on current or future land;

- Develop your business.

What is the difference between the Level 3 and the Level 4 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological System Design?

The Level 3 incorporates a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC), while the Level 4 focuses on advanced design methodology, the product of which can be counted towards a Permaculture Diploma or Certificate in Applied Permaculture Design.

The Level 3 spends more time on Permaculture as it goes through the entire syllabus for the PDC and incorporates business skills, while the Level 4 focuses on the advanced design aspects of Permaculture and spends more time on both strategic and operational business skills and business development.

Topics we aim to cover during the courses:

This unit provides opportunities for learners to develop a deeper understanding of the permaculture design practice in the context of agroecological and regenerative land-based systems. Learners will understand the requirements of the full design cycle for an agroecological and regenerative land-based system. Learners will also complete one design report. Outcomes from this unit may also be used towards the Permaculture Diploma.
The unit will develop the learners’ professional practice within farm-scale designs including developing a range of presentation skills to a range of clients. Learners will develop an understanding of the Permaculture Design Process and how to further develop their Permaculture practice.
This unit provides opportunities for learners to understand how to apply business skills for an agroecological and regenerative farm business that reflects the core principles of this type of business system. In this unit, learners will understand the financial and legal requirements required to set up a new farm business, or to transition an existing farm to a new agroecological and regenerative farming business system, including rural grant schemes.
This unit provides learners with opportunities to develop operational business skills for an agroecological and regenerative farm business that reflects the core principles of this type of business system. The unit allows learners to understand the operational financial, legal, human resources and marketing requirements for a new farm business, or to transition an existing farm to a new agroecological and regenerative farming business system.

DATES OF TRAINING

The 13 sessions will take place on Fridays, 9:30am- 4pm. Teaching days are:

2 May
9 May
16 May
23 May
30 May (there is teaching through school half-term)

6 June
13 June
20 June
27 June

4 July
11 July
18 July
25 July

You must attend 80% of the course to complete.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please click on the “Apply Now” button below and complete the application form as best you can, if you need support to complete the form, please email/call our Education Administrator Jasmine Devoto and we will help you with application process.

If you have received a copy of your application form via email, your application has been received by us as well and will be processed. We will be in touch a few weeks before the cohort starts for the intake interview.

education.admin@apricotcentre.co.uk
01803762253

Apply Now to the Level 4 Skills Bootcamp