National Apprenticeship Week 2026

A chance week of work experience on a dairy farm took London student Ellie Leer on a new career path from veterinary studies to farm management.

Three years and two apprenticeships later at Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Holyfield Hall Farm, and 20-year-old Ellie is about to qualify as an Assistant Farm Manager.

Working while studying has provided Ellie with a wealth of hands-on experience in every area of the farm’s management. From driving the combine during harvest time to calving in the spring, her apprenticeships at Lee Valley’s working beef and arable farm at Waltham Abbey, Essex, have provided valuable learning both in and outside the classroom.

Ellie said: “Originally I wanted to become a vet. I needed work experience while at school and my mum volunteers for Lee Valley so secured me a placement at their farm and I’ve never looked back!

“I’m from London, so a London girl coming to work on the farm was very unusual. When I joined, the farm had a dairy herd and the previous Farm Manager Jason showed me the basics of how to milk cows and then they offered to pay me, so I became a casual team member. Then they offered me an apprenticeship. I loved working at the farm, so I never left and chose not to go to vets school.”

Ellie, who is from Enfield, north London, but lives on site at Holyfield Hall Farm, believes her two apprenticeships have set her up for a future career in farming. “I need lots of experience, but I will be able to say I am qualified to be an assistant farm manager.”

It’s taken three years to complete her two apprenticeships with the support of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. The Authority manages the 10,000 acres of open spaces, the sport and leisure venues and the commercial farm in the 26 mile long park that stretches from Ware in Hertfordshire through Essex and north London to the banks of the River Thames.

“There were no agricultural apprenticeships when I wanted to do one so I did a Level 2 in Animal Care at Writtle College, Essex and my second one is a Level 4 Assistant Manager Apprenticeship. It’s all girls on my course, which is great in a male dominated industry. Harriet from Clarkson’s Farm was a great ambassador for women in farming last year. She can do everything and is such a good person to represent women in farming.

“I’m very passionate about farming. It’s such an intense, rewarding industry. I’ve shadowed vets here and seen what they do and decided it wasn’t a good fit for me….going from place to place. You never really get a good connection with the animals, when you see new animals every day. It is a rewarding career, but in farming you are with animals from day one, often all the way through their life. You earn real trust and build connections with the cattle. People often don’t realise, but us farmers, we love our cows!

“Gertie is my favourite. She’s quite famous here. They all have their own personalities. Some are anti-social, some are rude, some sassy, some friendly and some all of these at once.”

What do her family think of her chosen career path?

“My family thought I was insane when I said I wanted to go into farming, but they support me 100%. My dad works in construction and was very skeptical, but he got used to it and now calls me Farmer Leer!”

Ellie has enjoyed many highlights during her time on the farm – from driving the combine for the first time “despite the wiggly lines!” to calving her first cow on her own, which she admits was ‘scary but really cool”. But her daily highlight is seeing her favourite cow, Gertie. “She’s like a dog and usually runs across the barn for a cuddle.”

“I think the apprenticeship route into the world of work has been brilliant for me. It’s a great entry into working life. You’re learning whilst working and earning money. It prepares you for independence and you end up with a qualification, three years’ experience and no debt.”

Victoria Yates, Head of HR at Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: “It has been a pleasure working with Ellie during her apprenticeships at the Authority. She is an inspiration both to other apprentices and as a female in the farming industry!

“Apprentices bring curiosity, new ideas and up to date learning which can prompt improvements that may not have been considered previously.  At Lee Valley we have a number of apprentices who have stayed with us to become permanent employees both in the area they started in and in other parts of the organisation.”

As her second apprenticeship nears completion, what does the future hold for Farmer Leer?

“I don’t know what I want to do in the future, but I would really love to manage my own calf unit. It just seems like a lovely job, and I think I could do it well. And maybe I would one day like to have an assistant manager’s job. I’d like to think it’s a future proof career, but farming isn’t completely protected from AI…we almost have tractors that can drive themselves!”