Career Suggestion

Agricultural inspector

Agricultural inspectors make sure food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards are followed in farms and dairies.

Average salary (a year)

£25000.0 to £45000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

37.0 to 40.0

You could work

evenings away from home

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • applying directly

University

You could start by taking a degree in a relevant subject like:

  • agriculture
  • environmental health
  • agricultural business management
  • science
  • maths

Some universities offer a foundation degree in agriculture as preparation for working in the agricultural sector.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

Direct Application

To apply directly to become an agricultural inspector, you'll need:

  • a minimum of a level 3 qualification in an agricultural subject
  • at least 2 years' relevant work experience in farming, for example as an agricultural machine operator
  • a willingness to work flexibly and travel often

Professional certification and health and safety training will also be useful. You could do training with an organisation like:

More Information

Career Tips

You'll usually work for a government-related agency, for instance:

Self-employment is another common option.

Further Information

You can find more details about working as an agricultural inspector from Tasty Careers and The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture .

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to analyse quality or performance
  • the ability to work well with others
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • have a full driving licence

Day-to-day tasks

As an agricultural inspector, you could:

  • examine machinery, buildings and the working environment
  • test and analyse product samples against quality standards
  • check record keeping on farms and production facilities
  • assess the controls for prevention of animal disease
  • investigate animal welfare concerns
  • plan and co-ordinate site visits
  • make sure inspection paperwork is accurate and up to date
  • write reports and make recommendations for improvements

Working environment

You could work in an office or on a farm.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

With experience, you could become a team leader, managing a group of technical staff, or work as a consultant for quality certification bodies.

You might also specialise in areas like sustainable farming, land conservation or agricultural science.

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