An aerial view of a rural property with a house featuring solar panels, a greenhouse, and a garden. There are several cars parked on the driveway and a dirt path, along with garden beds, a shed, and greenery surrounding the area.

Level 3 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological System Design

About this course

FREE for participants, made possible by Devon County Council, Skills Bootcamps and Train 4 Tomorrow, the Apricot Centre @Huxhams Cross Farm

The Level 3 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological System Design: Farming and Business Practice to help people in growing and farming to upskill and implement agroecological regenerative Permaculture design methods on their land, in their jobs or business, and upcoming projects and prospects. Skills Bootcamps are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

The Level 3 doesn’t necessarily require having done a Level 2, and we run both a Level 3 & 4 - please have a read through our offerings and get in touch if you have any questions whether either is a good fit for you.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR MAY - JUNE 2026 COHORT

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Monday 20th April, 2026

This course is certified as a Level 3 equivalent by Ofqual and Crossfields as a certificate in Agroecological System Design as part of the Governments Skills for Life - Skills Bootcamps Scheme. It also provides a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) from the Permaculture Association.

Designed for people 19+ to 103 years old! We welcome applications from all diverse backgrounds and life experiences. You must be Self Employed or be in PAYE employment. If you are being sent by your employer through your current job, the course is required to be co-funded and your employer will be asked to contribute 10-30% (ca. £300-£900) of the cost of the course depending on company size (SMEs pay 10%). Please contact Jasmine if this may hold back your application as we have bursaries available. Please note that when applying as an individual or self-employed, you must be a resident of Devon or Cornwall. If you are sponsored by your employer, your employer’s registered address has to be in Devon.

THIS SHORT COURSE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY WILL HELP YOU:

- Progress your career in regenerative farming;

- Develop a further understanding of applying agroecological and regenerative principles through a Permaculture lens;

- Develop regenerative land based systems on current or future land;

- Develop your business.

What is the difference between the Level 3 and the Level 4 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological System Design?

The Level 3 spends much more time on Permaculture as it goes through the entire required syllabus for the PDC (leading to a PDC) and incorporates business skills as part of the design assignment, while the Level 4 focuses mainly on business design, modelling and development and incorporates some advanced Permaculture design elements in the business assignment.

In this unit, learners will develop an understanding of the Permaculture design practice, from getting familiar and applying a range of design methodologies to developing communication and facilitation skills for client interviews.
In this unit, learners will develop an understanding of how Permaculture design practice, ethics and principles are applied to the built environment in regenerative systems, including transport, infrastructure and the carbon and other ecological footprints of these.
In this unit, learners will develop a range of personal and interpersonal skills that inform how they can use these skills in ethical agroecological and regenerative systems. They will be able to develop networks and peer-to-peer learning which is vital for continuing professional practice. Learners will understand how they can apply Permaculture design practice, ethics and principles are applied to themselves, and in community and communication with others, to create resilient and healthy designs and work environments within regenerative land-based systems.
In this unit, learners will be introduced to provide an introduction to simple business planning methods, business structures and community-supported agriculture systems. Learners will explore how agroecological and regenerative land-based systems aim to re-localise sales and shorten the supply chain, and the methods of achieving this. Learners will understand the businesses need to be economically regenerative, pay fair wages, and to become financially sustainable in the long term. Learners will be able to explore how to model business “for purpose” rather than profit.

Topics we aim to cover on this course

DATES OF TRAINING

The 13 sessions will take place on Wednesdays, 9:30am- 4pm.

6 May - 29 July 2026 cohort

Starting 6th of May, every Wednesday including half-term, until 29th of July, 2026. Syllabus schedule is confirmed upon application and acceptance onto the course.

You must attend 80% of the course to complete.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please click on the “Apply Now” button below and complete the application form as best you can, if you need support to complete the form, please email/call our Education Administrator Jasmine Devoto and we will help you with application process.

If you have received a copy of your application form via email, your application has been received by us as well and will be processed. We will be in touch to arrange the intake interview.

education.admin@apricotcentre.co.uk
01803762253 (select option 1)