Job Opportunities
Click on the relevant link to be taken down to the job description or relevant application form.
We are looking for a Production Assistant to join our team.
Click on the job description for more info, or the Production Assistant Application Form to apply.
We are looking for a Sales & Marketing Assistant to join our team.
Click on the job description for more info, or the Sales & Marketing Assistant Application Form to apply.
We are looking for seasonal beekeepers to join our team for the 2026 season.
Click on the job description for more info, or the Beekeeper Application Form to apply.
Applications for Bee Farming Apprentice are now open
Production Assistant
Production Assistant
Working Hours 9am – 3pm
With options for either a 3,4, or 5 day working week for the right candidate.
This is a permanent role, providing successful completion of a 12 month probationary period.
To apply in the first instance please complete the application form below, or if preferred, call Luke or Suzie on 07752 534953 / 01434 322981 for an informal chat.
Background
We are looking to expand our team with the position of production assistant. We are a family friendly small business that operates around school hours, with our typical business operating hours being 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday. With occasional event weekend work.
Northumberland Honey Co is a family run business, established and run by husband and wife Luke and Suzie, collectively managing between 300 honey production colonies with an aim producing in the region of 20 tonnes of honey per year and associated honey products, beeswax products, queen bees, and traditional method Sparkling Mead. All products being made on site, dispatched and distributed by the company.
Salary / Hours
Competitive Salary is paid based on experience, and reviewed annually.
The role is subject to satisfactory completion of a 12 month probationary period, with option for flexible hours, working 3 to 5 days a week depending on the need of the candidate and suitability for the role.
Overtime is available if required and paid in half hour increments. It is expected that some overtime is worked from time to time as required.
No bank holidays are worked.
See table for pay bandings dependent on experience and whether you would come in as a ‘junior production assistant’ or ‘production assistant’ and whether you would work 3, 4 or a 5 day week working pattern.
Job Description
Day to Day Activities
The production assistant will be working alongside the existing team consisting of production manager, sales manager and 2 directors. With a focus on the following tasks:
Honey
- Labelling honey jars and mead bottles
- Quality control
- Working to SALSA standards
Packing/ Orders/ Stock
- Shredding cardboard for order packing
- Housing stock / organising inbound deliveries
- Quality control
Candles/ Cosmetic
- De-moulding candles
- Re-setting candle moulds
- Wrapping candles pre-despatch
- Labelling candles and cosmetics
- Quality control
Cleaning
- Using karcher floor scrubber/dryer for cleaning walkways and warehouse areas.
- Cleaning production rooms, office, shop, extraction / warming room.
- Keeping all areas of the unit clean and tidy, clearing out bins, cleaning surfaces etc.
Other Tasks
- Seeing customers in the onsite shop as and when required.
- Occasional event cover as and when required
Training
Full training is given. You will be working directly under the company directors and head of production who will outline jobs required and assist with your training and development in the role. A training plan will be given at the outset, with full training given. Training outcomes will be audited to ensure expectations on both sides are met.
Annual Leave
As standard we provide 6 weeks annual leave per year pro rata and are quite flexible on annual leave requirements.
Benefits
Beside the obvious benefit of being surrounded by the amazing aroma of honey and beeswax all day and working in a small friendly team, we have other benefits too.
Company pension scheme, 6 weeks annual leave per year pro rata, flexible working with a team focused workforce. Staff discounts on the range of products. School hours working pattern. Time off over Christmas and New Year.
Start Date
January 2025 onwards.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
We are looking for an individual who can excel at the above tasks and goes above and beyond. You must be fit and well, stamina for working in a busy manual environment, a keen eye for detail and quality control. Organised and tidy with work, being able to clean up after yourself and maintain a clean and tidy working environment.
You will be an excellent communicator, team player. As part of communication being comfortable calling the boss and discussing / working through any concerns or issues.
A can do attitude to work and learning new skills, a desire to ensuring you’re in early to start in good time, and working late if needed, pulling together with the team to work as a team to get the job done. If you see someone struggling with a lot of work, being that person that steps in to help out.
You will have a very good level of fitness, no medical requirements that would prevent you from fulfilling the role, and no known allergy to bees.
These are all the strengths of our current team and strengths we would like to build on.
Desirable Criteria
(note, the following criteria are not essential but desirable, for example if you do not have a food hygiene level 2 qualification, necessary training and qualification will be provided, desirable criteria may set a successful applicant apart, but are not required in order to undertake the role)
- Food hygiene level 2
- Achievements in crafting
- Prior experience in cleaning commercially to the highest level
- Training and previous use of cleaning machinery.
- Previous experiencing running a food production line or food production equipment
- Previous experience of working in a SALSA environment.
- Quality control training
Application Process
Please complete the application form below.
Whilst we endeavour to get back to ALL applicants it may be that we can only respond to shortlisted applicants. We will only be able to review those applications who are complete and full applications. Once you submit your initial expression of interest form below, you will receive a copy of the submission via e-mail which will confirms that we have received your application.
Closing Date
Closing date for this role will be when a suitable applicant has been found and accepted employment. If you are thinking of applying please do so sooner rather than later, to avoid missing out on the role. We have a very low staff turn-over, new opportunities are rare, meaning roles such as this in our business come up infrequently.
Production Assistant - Application Form
If you have any questions or difficulties completing this application form, or would like the application form in a different format please contact us on lukeandsuzie@northumberlandhoney.co.uk
Sales and Marketing Assistant
Sales & Marketing Assistant
Working Hours 9am – 3pm
With options for either a 3,4, or 5 day working week for the right candidate.
This is a permanent role, providing successful completion of a 12 month probationary period.
To apply in the first instance please complete the application form below, or if preferred, call Luke or Suzie on 07752 534953 / 01434 322981 for an informal chat.
Background
We are looking to expand our team with the position of sales and marketing assistant. We are a family friendly small business that operates around school hours, with our typical business operating hours being 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday. With occasional event weekend work.
Northumberland Honey Co is a family run business, established and run by husband and wife Luke and Suzie, collectively managing between 300 honey production colonies with an aim producing in the region of 20 tonnes of honey per year and associated honey products, beeswax products, queen bees, and traditional method Sparkling Mead. All products being made on site, dispatched and distributed by the company.
Salary / Hours
Competitive Salary is paid based on experience, and reviewed annually.
The role is subject to satisfactory completion of a 12 month probationary period, with option for flexible hours, working 3 to 5 days a week depending on the need of the candidate and suitability for the role.
Overtime is available if required and paid in half hour increments. It is expected that some overtime is worked from time to time as required especially for helping out/ working at marketing events.
No bank holidays are worked.
See table for pay bandings dependent on experience and whether you would come in as a ‘junior sales and marketing assistant’ or ‘sales and marketing assistant’ and whether you would work 3, 4 or a 5 day week working pattern.
Job Description
Day to Day Activities
The sales and marketing assistant will be working alongside our head of sales and marketing and 2 directors, undertaking the day to day sales, customer service and marketing tasks, based at our facility in Haltwhistle but with the need to travel throughout Northumberland to our stockists from time to time, and nationally when needed.
Day to day sales activities includes: maintaining a database of trade customers, taking trade orders, packing trade orders, maintaining relationships with trade customers, and gaining new trade customers.
You will be confident and experienced with receiving and making telephone calls in a professional manner, receive members of the public in our onsite shop and be able to learn product information quickly and demonstrate extensive knowledge of the company products and pricing.
On a day to day basis you will be taking orders for both trade and retail customers, and be involved with despatching orders. It is also expected that you will assist in keeping the office in a good clean organised state. One of the exciting parts of working at Northumberland Honey Co is that each day is different with tasks varying depending on the needs of the business.
Day to day marketing activities include, developing social media plans and assisting with developing content, of which is all currently filmed and edited in house.
Blog writing, creating content for press releases, developing press contacts and entering awards will also be required.
You will also be expected to be involved with new product development, customer feedback and developing new sales and marketing strategies.
It is expected that you’ll have good insight into the food industry and enthusiasm / demonstrable passion for the Northumberland Honey Co brand.
Training
Full training is given. You will be working directly under the company directors who will outline jobs required and assist with your training and development in the role. A training plan will be given at the outset, with full training given. Training outcomes will be audited to ensure expectations on both sides are met.
Annual Leave
As standard we provide 6 weeks annual leave per year pro rata and are quite flexible on annual leave requirements.
Benefits
Beside the obvious benefit of being surrounded by the amazing aroma of honey and beeswax all day and working in a small friendly team, we have other benefits too.
Company pension scheme, 6 weeks annual leave per year pro rata, flexible working with a team focused workforce. Staff discounts on the range of products. School hours working pattern.
Start Date
As soon as possible
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
You will be an excellent communicator, team player, a passion for sales and communicating at the highest level. Comfortable working alone / independently. As part of communication being comfortable calling the boss and discussing / working through any concerns or issues.
A can do attitude to work and learning new skills, a desire to starting early, working late if needed and pulling together to work as a team to get the job done. If you see someone struggling with a lot of work, being that person that steps in to help out.
You will have a very good level of fitness, no medical requirements that would prevent you from fulfilling the role, and no known allergy to bees.
These are all the strengths of our current team and strengths we would like to build on.
Other Essential Requirements for the Role:
- Experience of sales/ negotiation roles
- Experience of office software and spreadsheets
- Demonstrable excellent time management skills
- Demonstrable customer service skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Comfortable with computer work, and excellent phone/ interpersonal skills.
Desirable Criteria
(note, the following criteria are not essential but desirable, for example if you do not have a personal alcohol licence, necessary training and qualification will be provided, desirable criteria may set a successful applicant apart, but are not required in order to undertake the role)
- Sales/ Management or Accountancy Qualification
- Evidence of team working and lone working in previous jobs
- Personal Alcohol Licence
- Health and Safety Training
- Proven track record of sales/ marketing roles with evidence of acheivements
Application Process
Please complete the application form below.
Whilst we endeavour to get back to ALL applicants it may be that we can only respond to shortlisted applicants. We will only be able to review those applications who are complete and full applications. Once you submit your initial expression of interest form below, you will receive a copy of the submission via e-mail which will confirms that we have received your application.
Closing Date
Closing date for this role will be when a suitable applicant has been found and accepted employment. If you are thinking of applying please do so sooner rather than later, to avoid missing out on the role. We have a very low staff turn-over, new opportunities are rare, meaning roles such as this in our business come up infrequently.
Sales & Marketing Assistant - Application Form
If you have any questions or difficulties completing this application form, or would like the application form in a different format please contact us on lukeandsuzie@northumberlandhoney.co.uk
Seasonal Beekeeper
(Minimum of 6 Weeks upto 6 Months)
2026 Seasonal Beekeeper
We are recruiting for a seasonal beekeeper for a minimum of 6 weeks upto 6 months.
We are looking for an individual with a significant interest in queen rearing, nucleus colony production and knowledge of honey production who is looking to either further their knowledge in beekeeping, or to gain experience working in a industry leading bee farm in the UK.
We have various positions available, depending on experience we will consider the following roles/ levels of beekeeper. Please see table below for definitions of levels and pay bandings for each level.
Beekeeper
Advanced Beekeeper
Master Beekeeper
The seasonal beekeeper will play a significant part in our beekeeping operation, with opportunity to further develop specialised skills in either honey production or queen rearing depending on the individuals preferences.
This role is ‘seasonal’ envisaged to be anything from 6 weeks to 6 months in duration.
Background
At Northumberland Honey Co we currently manage between 300 and 400 honey production colonies on BS National equipment and 800 mating nuclei for open mating of queens in apideas and our own built national mating hives, on a 4 week cycle. With between 100-200 nuclei for instrumentally inseminated queens and nucleus colonies for sale.
Our queen rearing apiary runs a starter / finisher system with 20-30 finishers at any one time. We incubate queen cells in our queen lab where we also undertake grafting and instrumental insemination. We currently instrumentally inseminate around 200 queens a season and aim to produce 2,000 open mated queens, with the plan to increase this number.
Key Abilities Desired (Queen Rearing)
- Stocking mating nucs (apidea type)
- Tidying queen bee lab and workshop keeping organised
- Transferring queen cells from incubator out into mating nucs
- Assisting with managing queen rearing apiary, setting up starters, finishers and managing nuclei
- Pulling / caging mated and virgin queens
- Checking emergence rates from cells
- Assisting with managing drone rearer colonies
- Banking virgin queens
- Gathering drones for instrumental insemination
- Maintaining records on % successes and failures.
- Reporting back on field status
- Working as part of a close team and also individually
- Ensuring colonies are in good health and feed status
- Excellent queen handling abilities and cell handling
- Being able to mark and clip queens.
Key Abilities Desired (Honey Production)
- Swarm Control / Prevention
- Clipping and Marking Queens
- Basic Beekeeping carpentry
- Able to move and handle heavy supers/ brood boxes full of honey
- Excellent understanding and awareness of bee diseases and management
- Track record of honey production
- Clean driving licence, familiar with driving 4×4 pickups.
- Able to work long days/ early starts and variable days of the week to fit with beekeeping demands / weather.
If you are applying and do not meet all the key abilities above we would expect that you would have a good understanding of what is required, with the ability to apply knowledge and learn quickly. Training will be provided.
As part of the working week we have a structured job plan, based around whiteboard planning with a date / timetable of events flowing from one task to the other.
As a whole team at Northumberland Honey Co we have weekly staff briefings on a Monday morning where the whole team is present to discuss the work of the week ahead, along with staff socials.
Start Date / End Date
The seasonal beekeeper role is envisaged to start around 1st April and if working the full 6 months running through to 1st October.
Dates are flexible to some degree depending on individual circumstances and if these can fit with the needs of the company.
Working Hours
Working hours are planned to be approximately 5 days a week, with beekeeping / weather patterns there will be some weekend work required but generally we do try to work to a 5 day week.
Salary
Salary dependent on experience and is highly competitive within the industry. See table below for pay rates depending on experience and accomodation allowance if required/ coming from a distance.
Salary / bandings are in 2 tables, the first being an example for a 6 week placement, and the second table being an example of a 6 month placement.
Accomodation
With the 6 month placement it is envisaged that the accomodation allowance will go towards a 6 month property let of which there are a reasonable number usually available locally in Haltwhistle.
With a 6 week placement the rate is slightly higher due to the likelyhood of having to take holiday let style accomodation or B&B for which the daily costs are higher than longer term lets.
Annual Leave
There will be opportunity during the 6 month seasonal beekeeper role to take annual leave, it is envisaged that blocks of annual leave are taken outside of the key busy periods, likely mid/ end August and start of September.
Training
Training will be provided, all new starters have a structured induction/ training programme, however it is expected that you will already have beekeeping experience. If you don’t have all the beekeeping experience we require, but have transferable skills / other beekeeping experience please do still apply or discuss with us further.
For experienced beekeepers there may be scope to undertake training whilst with us in instrumental insemination, bee breeding and selection.
Closing Date
We anticipate closing applications for this role once a suitable candidate is found. So if you are considering applying, please do so sooner rather than later.
All applications are treated with the utmost confidence and references only contacted after a provisional job offer is made and accepted.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form below
Seasonal Beekeeper - Application Form
If you have any questions or difficulties completing this application form, or would like the application form in a different format please contact us on lukeandsuzie@northumberlandhoney.co.uk
Bee Farmers Apprenticeship
A unique opportunity is available as applications are now open for a bee farmers apprentice who will work as an integral part of our team at Northumberland Honey Company and undertake the Bee Farmers Assocation Apprenticeship Scheme.
The BFA apprenticeship scheme is a 3 year programme, culminating in the Diploma in Excellence in Bee Farming.
The apprenticeship is ‘on the job’ learning with 2 weeks per year ‘block teaching’ which is classroom based, but the remainder of the year you learn working alongside your host trainer/ employer – Northumberland Honey Company.
As apprentice bee farmer you will learn the workings of all aspects of an industry leading bee farm. Working very closely with the directors of Northumberland Honey Company. On completion of the apprenticeship it is expected you will be working at a level of being able to successfully manage a bee farm. Key requirements and specific learning elements for the apprenticeship are listed below.
There may be opportunities to work on different bee farms throughout the country and visit different businesses in order to gain breadth and variety of experience also. This is completely dependent on the individual candidates desire to do so, but at Northumberland Honey Company we are well connected to bee farms through the UK and also in New Zealand with plenty of opportunities to maximise experience on the apprenticeship.
The Bee Farmers Apprenticeship has usually 1 intake per season in autumn, you can start in emploment with your host trainer at anytime through the year before officially joining the apprenticeship intake.
Start Date
We are looking to start this position as soon as possible but are happy to wait for the right individual who may have school to complete, or notice periods to work.
Background
At Northumberland Honey Co we currently manage around 400 honey production colonies and 800 mating nuclei being one of the UKs largest breeders of queen bees, and producer of quality honey.
We work from a SALSA approved purpose built production facility at Haltwhistle, Northumberland.
A career in bee farming is very fulfilling, combining working in some of the best scenary that Northumberland has to offer, and working with bees on a close level day in day out. Completion of the Bee Farmers Apprenticeship opens doors to work on any bee farms in the world furnishing you with skills and qualifications to work in the industry at a high level.
The Apprenticeship Learning Programme
Underpinning knowledge will be delivered expert Bee Farmer industry trainers in two blocks per year, each of two weeks. You will study:
- introduction to beekeeping
- equipment
- carpentry and basic woodworking skills
- seasonal management
- queen rearing and stock improvement
- botany and forage sources
- pollen and nutrition
- honey bee anatomy
- honey bee diseases
- integrated pest management
- microscopy
- processing hive products
- bottling and presentation
- setting up a business
- business structures
- finance
- marketing
- the competitive environment
- the industry worldwide
- health and safety
- first aid
- food hygiene.
Whilst working as a bee farming apprentice for Northumberland Honey Company you will be working with an industry leading team, from sales and marketing manager, production staff, and beekeepers all with a significant background and expertise.
You will join one of the most forward thinking bee farms in the UK and gain experience in all areas of the business which should hopefully give you meaningful insight, skills and knowledge to be able to choose your career path following the apprenticeship. Completion of the apprenticeship gives an industry recognised qualifaction which is effectively a passport to work at a high level on any bee farm in the world.
Standard working hours in the apprenticeship role are 9am to 3pm. However there is expectation that you will commit your own time to spend at least 2 hours per day from 3pm-5pm of self-directed study / further learning, working on the one file portfolio which is to be completed as part of the apprenticeship, and/or using this time to spend time at the Haltwhistle facility undertaking familiarisation with new processes or contributing to business development. This commitment and process will ensure you become a highly skilled beekeeper by the end of the apprenticeship and allows time outside of the regular working day to build knowledge in what is a complex industry.
Following completion of the apprenticeship it is anticipated that a full time role similar to the current available Beekeeper vacancy will be on offer. With significant career progression available.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
You will be an excellent communicator, team player, a passion for beekeeping at the highest level. Comfortable working alone / independently. As part of communication being comfortable calling the boss and discussing / working through any concerns or issues.
A can do attitude to work and learning new skills, a desire to starting early, working late if needed and pulling together to work as a team to get the job done. If you see someone struggling with a lot of work, being that person that steps in to help out.
You will have a very good level of fitness, no medical requirements that would prevent you from fulfilling the role, and no known allergy to bees.
You will have a good interest in bees, and desire to learn about beekeeping on a commercial level. You will have interest in food production to the highest quality control standards and expected to maintain these standards. You will be comfortable will learning new skills, and be able to undertake self-directed learning and self-motivated to do so.
You will be passionate about helping produce all natural hive products, from pure honey to beeswax products and cosmetics.
These are all the strengths of our current team and strengths we would like to build on.
Other Essential Requirements for the Role:
- Self-motivated and committed to completing a 3 year apprenticeship programme.
- Demonstrable excellent time management skills
- Demonstrable team working skills
- Ability to work under pressure in challenging conditions.
- Minimum age of 18 at the start of the apprenticeship.
- Clean driving licence and experience of driving.
- GCSEs and A-Levels.
Desirable Criteria
(note, the following criteria are not essential only desirable)
- Evidence of team working and lone working in previous jobs
- Previous beekeeping experience.
Application Process
Please complete the application form below.
Whilst we endeavour to get back to ALL applicants it may be that we can only respond to shortlisted applicants. We will only be able to review those applications who are complete and full applications. Once you submit your initial expression of interest form below, you will receive a copy of the submission via e-mail which will confirms that we have received your application.
Working Hours
Regular working hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.
With the apprenticeship being beekeeping focused, there are times in the season where colonies are migrated, there is late evening/ early morning work and work can be dictated by weather patterns there may also be occasion where some weekend work is required. This is very seasonal and purely dictated by the beekeeping work/ weather patterns.
It is envisaged that a reasonable amount of overtime will be available in the summer months and you’ll be able to work as the beekeeping workload dictates. For example there are 3 key honey harvests, spring (end May/ start of June), summer (July), and heather (September) where honey harvest over the course of a week can involve extended hours, equally bee hive moving to crops such as OSR in spring and heather in August can have 1-2 weeks of extended working to get the bees moved and in place for the flowering crops. As flowering is dictated by the weather we can often have to respond to moving bees with only a couple of days notice. Even with extended working weeks it is likely we would not be working over 40 hours in a week.
As part of the apprenticeship you will also be involved with sales to the public and attending marketing / sales events, these are usually planned well in advance.
Annual Leave
Annual Leave is 6 weeks pro rata.
Salary
Salary starts at £19,500 per annum based on salaried hours of 9am-3pm Monday to Friday, reviewed annually.
Work outside of normal hours will be classed as overtime and paid extra accordingly.
Training
Structured training will be provided as part of the apprenticeship scheme, all new starters have a structured induction/ training programme. You will be expected to maintain a portfolio, be able to work independantly and as part of a team.
You will be introduced to David and Celia Rudland who deliver the 2 week block teaching each year and are the apprenticeship assessors. Please take time to watch Celia talking about the apprenticeship scheme in the video below.
Closing Date
We have not set a closing date for applications as this is a fairly niche role and applicants we expect will be less than our usual job roles we offer. We do however expect to have the position filled during sometime in summer 2025. So if you are interested please do apply as soon as possible.
All applications are treated with the utmost confidence and references/ previous employers only contacted after a provisional job offer is made and accepted.
Interview Process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview, this will be quite informal, and involve spending upto a couple of hours with the team here and getting some experience of what we do on a day to day basis. There may be tasks set ranging from the administration side, to the beekeeping side such as packing orders, labelling honey, through to getting into a beesuit and handling some bees – full training at interview will be given on how to approach any task, it is simply for us to be able to ascertain how well you take on instruction, and how comfortable you are with some example tasks that you would be encountering on your apprenticeship. It also gives you opportunity to see what a day in the life of a bee farming apprentice might be like, and give you a good insight into the role.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form below and if you’d like to have an informal chat just give the office a call on 01434 322981.
Bee Farmers Apprentice - Application Form
If you have any questions or difficulties completing this application form, or would like the application form in a different format please contact us on lukeandsuzie@northumberlandhoney.co.uk or 07752 534953