Seasonal Work at New Farm

New Farm is situated in the small village of Elmhurst that is 2.5 miles from the city of Lichfield. The city has 3 big supermarkets and many smaller shops, post office, banks, bus and train stations, sport and leisure facilities and a large Cathedral stands high above the city of Lichfield and you will find this small town a pleasant and friendly place. Our central location makes it easy to travel to many places for shopping and to visit places of interest.
We specialise in growing strawberries, raspberries and asparagus selling direct to supermarkets, markets, catering and from our own Farm Shop.
Our main farm is at Elmhurst, near Lichfield but we grow our crops on a number of satellite sites in the area. Our cropping area exceeds 70 ha.
Brothers David and Stephen run the farm. We employ Field Managers and Supervisors to ensure the operation is well organised.
All staff at New Farm will do all they can to help you.
Our produce is harvested between April and November, weather and crop permitting. A good percentage of our crops are grown under plastic tunnels, therefore rain does not effect the crop. For reasons of weather and crop no assurance can be given about the continuity of work and when it is offered, you are not compelled to take it.
If you choose to work at New Farm, you will be employed as a casual worker. We can also provide work through out the year for selected people.
From 2008 workers from Bulgaria and Romania are recruited through Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) only, we work with Sastak - an operator appointed by the Home Office. Workers issued work cards through the SAWS scheme are only allowed to work at New Farm, it is not a general work permit, for work in the UK.

NON-EU NATIONALS

New Farm cannot accept applications direct from non-EU nationals who require a visa to work in the UK.

HOURS OF WORK

The majority of work on our farm will be on a piecework basis, when weather plus state of the crop and customer demand will play a part. Our farm would normally aim to work five or six days a week depending on crop, customer and weather conditions, we do not normally work on Sunday. We normally work an 8-hour day. Harvesting can only be done when the field checker is on site, start and finish times will be dictated by crop and weather conditions. In very hot weather these hours can be altered by mutual agreement.

SUNDAYS – rest day

On your day off you are free to visit the many places of interest within easy travelling distance from the farm. There is plenty of local shopping including markets and car-boot stalls. During July and August New Farm will arrange coach trips to various places of interest such as Alton Towers, Wales and Oxford. We also have farm barbeques, discos and other events.
If we require any workers on Sundays, it will be offered to selected people only.

HOLIDAYS AND WAGES

All entitlement is in accordance with the terms of Agricultural Wages Order (AWB) and will be taken daily.
We will tell you how much you have earned each day and you will be issued with a payslip. We do not pay wages during breaks such as meals or other extended breaks. Much work will be done on piecework, based on your individual production. Wages are calculated daily and will be paid daily, every Friday or on request.
All daily paid workers who do not collect their pay daily will be paid on request or by agreement with the office.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

New Farm has a friendly and caring approach to all employees. Our reputation within the local community and local residents is very important to us. Employees who disobey farm rules or the laws of the UK will be dismissed from the farm.
You are required to present yourself in a fit condition for work, if your performance or behaviour is substandard you will be disciplined and may lose your job.
Discipline must be maintained within our large workforce al all times and we reserve the right to dismiss any employee who is guilty of serious misconduct or who fails to adhere to our rules and procedures.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO INSTANTLY DISMISS ANY EMPLOYEE GUILTY OF GROSS MISCONDUCT, CRIMINAL OR THREATENING BEHAVIOUR.

SICKNESS

If you fall ill or suffer an accident you must report this to your Field Supervisor. If you are unable to contact either of these people you should report to the main office as soon as possible, where we will administer first aid or seek medical attention. For Food Hygiene and Safety reasons, you must not work with a contagious disease. You cannot claim loss of earnings when absent sick or following an accident. In emergency and in the absence of any other responsible person, medical assistance can be obtained by telephoning 999 or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The farm will take every precaution to provide a safe environment in which to work. You yourself, whilst working on the farm, have an equal obligation to take all reasonable steps to safeguard both yourself and all others on the farm.
You will be required to read the Farm Health and Safety Policy, which is posted in the rest room, and you must always adhere to it’s content.
You will see that certain tasks are specifically banned without the express permission of the Manager and also without specialist training.
Farms can be dangerous and you must follow instructions given to you by your supervisor.
Regular meetings will be organised to provide training appropriate to the requirements of your job. For your safety and safety of others you must not attempt to complete any work you have not been trained to do. You must not operate or be near any machinery unless you have been authorised and fully trained. It is your responsibility to make sure you do not put yourself or others in danger, ask a member of staff if you are in doubt as to whether you should be doing a particular task.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

New Farm does not arrange medical insurance on your behalf. Emergency medical treatment only will be available while you are in the UK. All non-emergency treatment will normally be charged for including all dentist treatment.
If you choose to arrange medical insurance in your own country, please bring a copy of the insurance certificate with you.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY

The full Policy is posted on the notice board. In summary it states that you must be prepared to work and/or live with people of any nationality, race, sex or religion without discrimination or harassment. We shall treat any such discrimination as a severe breach of conduct and this will not be tolerated. When any such matter is brought to our attention, we shall thoroughly investigate the facts and aim to deal with each case on its merits as quickly, sensitively and impartially as we are able.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is available at New Farm. If you wish to stay on the farm you will live in a mobile home, which you will share with others. All vans are equipped with microwave, fire, hot/cold water, toilets and showers. Everyone will be expected to prepare and cook their own meals including making sandwiches etc. and drinks to be used when working. You will be expected to clean your accommodation including all utensils. A vacuum cleaner is available for cleaning. Accommodation facility charge is currently £4.16/day.
We will hold a refundable deposit for which a receipt will be issued. This will be returned to you when you leave, providing there has been no damage to accommodation or farm equipment and our facilities have not been left in a dirty condition.
Some items you use may require you to pay a deposit, this will be returned to you on return of the equipment used or hired. On site, there are additional showers, washing machine, clothes drying area.
New Farm has a large Common Room with pool table, table tennis, darts. We also have a well – equipped gym with all facilities to improve your body muscles or just to tone up your looks!

CARS

No cars allowed when you are living at the farm.

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS & MONEY

We can accept no responsibility for your personal possessions or money. In certain circumstances we might be prepared to place such items in a safe, STRICTLY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

VISITORS

No Employees are allowed to invite friends' visitors or partners from England or any other farm to stay overnight in our accommodation. All visitors must be accompanied by a resident worker at all times.Visitors should be met in the car park or by the security gate on arrival and escorted back on departure. All visitors must leave New Farm by 22.00 hours. Disobedience of these rules by any workers or their visitors will result in a discipline of a worker. We may also restrict visitors at any time if it is felt there is a risk to security at New Farm. We reserve the right to escort any unwanted visitors off the site.

FIGHTING, STEALING, BULLYING OR VANDALISM

If you are involved in fighting, stealing, bullying or vandalism on our farm you will be dismissed. If you get involved through no fault of your own in any of the above activities you should report the matter to your manager as soon as possible. In certain cases the Police will be called and you may be arrested.

MISBEHAVING

We expect people to behave appropriately; excessive drinking or bad behaviour is not accepted. Workers who do not adhere to the farm rules will be dismissed and be asked to leave the farm accommodation immediately.
In the event you become a nuisance, drunk or difficult to control on company property or in the workers recreational areas you will have the option of being escorted back to your accommodation until you have calmed down or being reported to the police where criminal charges may be made against you. In either case you may be dismissed.

ALCOHOL AND LITTER

Alcohol drinking or litter dropping in public places is against the law in the UK. If you are caught, it will be considered as bringing the name of the company into disrepute and you may be dismissed. Dropping litter on the farm or in the fields is strictly forbidden. Drinking of alcohol on any bus or in any company vehicle is strictly prohibited

ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES AND WEAPONS

Drugs and weapons are not permitted on our farm. In the interest of your safety, safety of others and good management you must agree, that if required the farm have the right to search yourselves or your living accommodation. If any recreational drugs or weapons are found on you or in your accommodation you will be dismissed or in some cases reported to the police.

LOUD MUSIC

The farm is located close to the village and other local businesses, it is important for workers to have peace and quite in their accommodation, especially if they have to start work in the early mornings, therefore the playing of loud music particularly outside of accommodation is strictly forbidden at all times.
You may play music inside your accommodation only at reasonable volumes. Anyone found playing music or making noises considered to be offensive, annoying or loud would be disciplined.

ARRIVAL AT NEW FARM

Please, inform the office of your expected arrival date and time at the farm. You can do this by post, e-mail, fax or telephone.
On your arrival in Lichfield you should telephone the contact numbers you have been given and someone will collect you from the station. If for any reason you are unable to arrive on time at the farm, you must inform the office in advance, as your place may be allocated to another person. We do not operate 24 hour reception for workers, access is restricted out of hours therefore you must make advance arrangements with the office if you will be arriving late.

Please note, that in our busy time we cannot guarantee collections from Lichfield so you might be asked to make your own arrangements to get to the farm.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING WITH YOU

It can be cold if you are here in spring or autumn. Please, bring warm clothes, sleeping bag, pillow, bed sheet, boots and waterproof jacket and trousers. You will need smart clothes for weekend trips, shopping etc. You should also bring money for your travel expenses from London to the farm, food shopping and other general expenses. (approx £100.00)

RECRUITMENT PARTNERS

New Farm works with a number of independent agents to assist with the recruitment of new employees. The majority of our workers are students but we do have a limited number of mature people from the new EU countries. We are currently working with the following agents:

1.SASTAK Ltd (UK SAWS operator)
Contact name: Harriet Evans
Address: BDC, Long Lane, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 8DU, UK
Telephone: +44 1588 673636
Fax: +44 1588 672205
E-mail: saws@sastak.com

2.GP RECRUITMENT (LATVIA)
Contact name: Ginters Purins
Address: ''GP Recruitment Ltd'' Brivibas 105-1, Riga LV- 1001, Latvia
Telephone: +371 7379917
Fax: +371 7379918
E-mail: office@gpr.lv

3.Company KM (LITHUANIA)
Contact name: Kristina Mazeikiene
Address: A. Mickeviciaus g. 8-34, 44312 Kaunas, Lithuania
Telephone: +370 37 423792
Fax:+370 698 39283
E-mail: info@kmkfirma.lt

TRAVEL INFORMATION

How to get to New Farm BY TRAIN from London:

DEPART:   EUSTON STATION (London)
ARRIVE:    NEW STREET STATION (Birmingham)
DEPART:   NEW STREET STATION (Birmingham)
ARRIVE:    LICHFIELD CITY STATION (Staffordshire)
On arrival at Lichfield station, telephone the farm and arrangements will be made to collect you.

How to get to New Farm BY COACH from London:

DEPART:      VICTORIA COACH STATION (London)
HEATHROW OR GATWICK OR STANSTED OR LUTON OR LIVERPOOL AIRPORT
ARRIVE:          DIGBETH COACH STATION (Birmingham)
On arriving in Birmingham you should walk to New Street train station (approximately 10 minutes) and take a train to Lichfield City Station. There is also a direct coach from London Victoria Coach Station to Lichfield once a day (at ~17.30).
The coach timetable and fares can be found on the website: http://www.nationalexpress.com
PLEASE NOTE:
You must purchase your coach ticket from a ticket office in the station before you can travel.
If you know you will be arriving late in the evening, you must telephone in advance to confirm when you will be arriving. We do not operate a 24-hour office to receive people on arrival.

USEFUL CONTACTS

Victoria Coach Station Tel. 02077 300202
National Express Tel. 08705 808080
British Rail Tel. 08457 484950
NHS Direct 0845 46 47
Lichfield Taxis Tel. 01543 411111, 01543 255155
Lichfield Dentist Tel. 01543 262825
Lichfield Doctor Tel. 01543 440812
Lichfield Hospital Tel. 01543 412900
Lichfield Tourist Information Tel. 01543 308209