Summary of role
Fruit factory (Stanmer Park, Brighton) based
Freelance, £14 per hour, 3 days per week Sat / Sun / Mon approx 7 hour shifts
The main focus of the position is to learn and lead apple processing sessions including but not limited to apple pressing, bottling, pasteurising, labelling, cider making, vinegar making, stock management and product sales. Our fruit factory in Stanmer Park is open to the public on the weekends so additional responsibilities include setting up and running the stall and delivering excellent customer service.
About Brighton Permaculture Trust
We teach 30+ courses a year in permaculture, eco-building, orchard management and food-growing. We plant 100 trees each year in school and community orchards. We save 30 tonnes of locally grown fruit from going to waste and turn it into delicious juice, cider, crumble and jams.
We run over 450 volunteering sessions a year, giving our volunteers opportunities to connect with nature and learn new skills.
We manage a permaculture demonstration plot, Racehill Community Orchard and several other orchards for the benefit of wildlife and the community. We are in the process of acquiring stewardship of a small plot of woodland in central Brighton that will be managed as an urban oasis for wildlife.
Our Permaculture ethics are central to everything we do:
Earthcare – enhancing natural resources and biodiversity; celebrating seasons
Peoplecare – valuing diversity, embracing differences; supporting health and well-being by connecting people to nature and to healthy food
Fairshare – inspiring people to create solutions for sharing resources wisely, today and for future generations.
Background to the role
Brighton Permaculture Trust has successfully built a scrumping project from scratch over the past decade, harvesting unused fruit in Sussex. We manage several small orchards at Stanmer and Racehill which supply fruit, we gather from private orchards and gardens with the help of volunteers and we use ‘wonky’ fruit from local commercial orchards.
Since 2009, our scrumping project has grown organically. Last season we processed 30 + tonnes of fruit that might otherwise have gone to waste, turning it into juices, ciders, jams and chutneys. The project has recently had significant investment creating a launch pad for increased scale and diversity, we now need to put these new systems to the test!
With the 2024 harvesting season fast approaching we need a motivated driven leader to join the team.
The Fruit Factory is integrated into all other areas of our work:
- Provide a practical demonstration base for our fruit, gardening and land managementcourses
- Afford a base for our popular Apple Day events
- Inspire people to engage with community orchards
- Production facility for all our apple products
Essential competencies
1. Passion for the environment and communities
Do you thrive making a positive impact on our planet in your community, tell us how.
2. Relationship building ability
Evidence of ability to work effectively with people and teams to deliver and develop projects to a high standard. Evidence of excellent people skills in working with team members, volunteers and the public.
3. Creative problem solving
Ability to respond to challenges with creativity, practicality and positivity: identify and assess issues promptly, work with others to facilitate solutions, and follow through on actions. Responsive and flexible as the work demands.
4. Record keeping, compliance and ultra hygienic methodology
The production of apple products requires very high standards of hygiene, process following and record keeping in line with Environmental Health and the Foods standards Agency.
Desirable Competencies
1. Juicing, pasteurising and fruit production skills and experience
Knowledge of basic fruit processing, enthusiasm for making products from local fruit, and an appetite to learn. Ability and experience in lifting and manual handling is desirable but not essential for some aspects of the fruit production.
2. Local knowledge and connection
Familiarity with Brighton and Hove/surrounding parts of Sussex, knowledge of local communities, evidence of voluntary work.
3. Customer service
The scrumping project is largely financed by sales and services offered at the fruit factory.
Terms
- The role is ongoing, but we are initially seeking a self-employed person for 4 months with a review period at 3 months. We will explore hours and contract options thereafter with the manager.
- It is a part-time freelance post, amounting to an average of 21 hours/week concentrated on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays with an additional day when required
- This role will report to the Scrumping Project Manager
- The job will be paid at £14 per hour, paid monthly in arrears. Invoices should be dated the last day of the month and will be paid within 21 days.
- Local travel costs will not be covered, but essential travel further than 10 miles from the city will be paid at cost or 45p per mile for vehicle use.
Please email katrina@brightonpermaculture.