Brian’s journey through CAFRE’s Level 2 Agriculture Apprenticeship

Date published: 19 March 2026

Brian Casey, from Crossmaglen began his agricultural journey with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) as a Level 2 Agriculture Apprentice, combining his early passion for farming with structured training that helped him build the skills and confidence needed for the industry.

Starting out at Level 2

Growing up on a beef farm, Brian always knew that working with the land would be part of his future. “Farming has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” he states. “I wanted a route that allowed me to stay on the farm while gaining qualifications, and the Level 2 Apprenticeship was exactly that.”

CAFRE’s Agriculture Apprenticeship Level 2 programme’s one-day-a-week model gave Brian a strong balance of learning and doing.

Each training day was split evenly:

• Half day indoors, studying agricultural theory
• Half day outdoors, completing hands-on tasks on a working farm

“The mix of theory and practical work made it much easier to understand how everything links together on a real farm,” Brian explains.

Learning in the right place

With training centres available at Greenmount Campus, Loughry Campus, Enniskillen Campus, Markethill, Maghera and Banbridge, Brian chose the Banbridge centre, which suited his location and travel. There, he joined other Apprentices from a variety of farming backgrounds.

“We learned so much from each other,” he says. “Everyone had different experiences and sharing them helped us all broaden our understanding of the industry.”

Progression after Level 2

After successfully completing the Level 2 Apprenticeship, Brian progressed onto the Level 3 Apprenticeship programme in Agriculture, continuing to build on the foundation he had already established. His Level 2 experience gave him the confidence to take on more responsibilities both in training and on farm.

Where he Is now

Brian is currently in the final year of his Level 3 Apprenticeship and is thriving as he continues his agricultural career. 

“I can see every day how the skills I learned at CAFRE help me make better decisions on the job,” Brian says. “The Apprenticeship route has opened so many doors for me.”

Brian is enthusiastic about the future and the opportunities that further qualifications and experience will bring. His journey shows how CAFRE’s Apprenticeship programme supports learners from Level 2 onwards, helping them grow their careers while continuing to work and earn.

Start your agricultural journey with CAFRE

Looking to develop your agriculture skills and gain a recognised qualification while continuing to work? CAFRE’s Apprenticeships in Agriculture programmes offer a practical, rewarding route into the industry. 

Join us at one of our Apprenticeship in Agriculture Open Days to meet teaching staff and discover how you can earn while you learn. We have events in Enniskillen Campus (Tuesday 14 April), Loughry Campus (Wednesday 15 April), and Greenmount Campus (Thursday 16 April). For more information, and to book your place, visit the CAFRE website.