The United Kingdom The UK is a hub for agricultural activities, particularly fruit picking. For those looking for employment opportunities in the UK with visa sponsorship, fruit picking jobs provide an excellent entry point.
This weblog will offer a complete guide to fruit picking jobs in the UK in 2025, including job requirements, benefits, responsibilities, income, specific types of jobs, and how to apply.
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Key Points:
- Job Title: Fruit Picker
- Location: Various farms across the UK, including regions like Kent, Herefordshire, and Cambridgeshire.
- Employment Type: Seasonal/Temporary
- Work Schedule: Full-time, including weekends and holidays during peak seasons.
Requirements for Visa Sponsorship Fruit Picking Jobs in UK:
A productive selection of jobs in the UK, although usually at entry level, has precise requirements to achieve specific performance and productivity:
- Physical Fitness: The nature of the activity requires prolonged standing, bending and lifting. Good physical health is essential.
- Work Visa: A one-piece visa is required for non-UK residents. A seasonal work visa is typically used for fruit picking work.
- Basic English Skills: While fluency in English is not essential, basic verbal communication skills are beneficial.
- Experience: Previous experience in farming or guiding work would be an advantage, but not always essential.
- Flexibility: A willingness to work a variety of hours is regularly required, including early mornings, weekends and holidays.
Benefits of Visa Sponsorship Fruit Picking Jobs:
- Legal work permit: Visa sponsorship ensures that you can work legally in the UK without immigration concerns.
- High demand and job security: There is a shortage of workers in the UK agricultural sector, making fruit picking jobs readily available and stable.
- No higher education requirements: Most fruit picking jobs do not require formal qualifications, making them accessible to many workers.
- Competitive pay and overtime pay: Workers are paid a fair wage, and additional pay is available for overtime and weekend shifts.
- Free or affordable accommodation: Many employers provide free or subsidised accommodation to help reduce housing costs.
- Access to the UK healthcare system: Workers benefit from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), ensuring medical care when needed.
- Paid holidays and vacation: Seasonal workers are entitled to paid vacation in accordance with UK labour laws.
- Long-term employment opportunities: Some employers offer year-round agricultural jobs in addition to fruit picking, such as greenhouse work or general farm labor.
- Multicultural work environment: Farms hire international workers, creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Training and skills development: Workers gain experience in harvesting, packing, and quality control, which can lead to career advancement in agriculture.
- Bonuses and productivity incentives: Some farms offer bonuses based on the amount of fruit picked, which increases earning potential.
- Opportunities to apply for permanent residence: Long-term workers may be eligible for an extension of their UK work visa or other immigration routes.
- Flexible work options: Seasonal jobs allow workers to earn money while on vacation during the off-season.
- Supported working conditions: UK labor laws ensure fair wages, a safe working environment, and protection of employee rights.
- Opportunity to explore the UK: Workers can travel and experience UK culture during their stay, making it both a work and life experience.
Duties for Visa Sponsorship Fruit Picking Jobs:
- Sorting and Packing: Sorting ends with using quality and size and packing them for shipping.
- Maintenance: Help protect orchards and fields by weeding, pruning, and cleaning.
- Quality Control: Ensuring that high-quality, superior fruit is picked and packed.
- Reporting: Keeping statistics on selected parts and potential problems.
Salary:
UK fruit picking earnings can vary depending on the type of fruit, farm and season. On average:
- Hourly rate: Fruit pickers typically earn between £8.72 and £10.50 per hour.
- Piece rate: Some farms pay by the kilogram or box of fruit picked, which can quickly increase people’s earnings.
- Bonuses: Many employers provide bonuses based primarily on performance, particularly throughout the season.
Types of Jobs:
- Apple picking: Often completed in large orchards, requiring humans to use ladders and pickers.
- Strawberry picking: Usually involves picking berries from raised beds or prominent baskets.
- Raspberry picking: The delicate fruit requires careful handling to avoid bruising.
- Cherry picking: Involves picking ripe cherries from a climbing ladder and a wooden picker.
- Blueberry picking: Usually accomplished in fields and requires people to use their hands to pick the berries.
- Grape picking: Grape picking usually involves cutting the grapes from the vine.
- Pear picking: Similar to apple picking, it requires careful handling of the result.
- Plum picking: Involves picking ripe berries from bushes.
- Blackberry gathering: Usually ends up in hedgerows or fields.
- Gooseberry gathering: Requires picking berries from trees, often thorny vegetation.
How to Apply For Visa Sponsorship Fruit Picking Jobs in UK?
Applying for a fruit picking job in the UK with visa sponsorship involves several steps:
Research and job search
- Online job portals: Websites like Indeed, Total Jobs, and Fruitful Jobs list numerous openings for fruit picking jobs.
- Recruitment agencies: Concordia and HOPS Labor Solutions focus on agricultural jobs.
- Farm websites: Many farms sell processed positions on their websites.
Prepare the application
- Resume/CV: Highlight all applicable experience and physical fitness.
- Cover Letter: Express your passion for the process and desire to work in the UK.
- References: If applicable, provide references from previous employers.
Apply for a job
- Online application: Submit your application via the activity portal or the farms website.
- Email applications: Send your CV and cover letter to the email provided.
- Personal applications: If you are already in the UK, you can immediately go to farms and ask about free activities.
Visa application
- Job Offer: Once you have received a job offer, the employer will provide you with the basic files for the visa software.
- Apply for a visa: Apply for a seasonal worker visa through the UK government website and submit all required files.
- Biometric meeting: Attend a biometric meeting and provide your fingerprints and photograph.
Prepare for arrival
- Travel arrangements: Book a tour to the UK.
- Accommodation: Confirm accommodation arrangements with the company.
- Pack essentials: Get ready for life by packing the right clothes, files and personal items.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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How much do UK fruit pickers get paid?
The average fruit picker salary in the United Kingdom is £22,984 per year or £11.79 per hour. Entry-level positions start at £21,674 per year, while most experienced workers make up to £27,261 per year.
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How to find seasonal work in the UK?
If you’re interested in finding seasonal work, you can use the government’s ‘find a job’ service to search and apply for jobs. Large companies often advertise their seasonal jobs on their own websites and on job websites. You can also check the websites of smaller businesses near where you live.
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What is the job description of a fruit picker?
Fruit and vegetable pickers may perform the following tasks: Select fruit and vegetables for picking according to size and ripeness, and discard rotting and over-ripened produce. Operate farm machinery to harvest nuts, fruit and vegetables. Load picked fruit and vegetables into containers, taking care to avoid damage.
