Growing Phase Three - Operative

Vitacress; Chichester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Vitacress Herbs in Runcton, near Chichester, West Sussex, is looking for a Growing Operative to join our team. You will sow seeds, support crop growth, monitor pest and disease, and help maintain hygiene and food safety standards while learning on the job.

Typical hours are 7am–3pm, five days over seven including weekends, with pay at £12.90 per hour paid monthly. This role offers practical experience with herbs for customers across the UK and a clear path for development within our growing

Qualifications

• Must have horticulture or growing experience.
• Knowledge of pest and disease recognition is a plus.
• Awareness of food safety practices is desirable.
• Understanding of health and safety procedures is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Sow seeds and support crop growth.
• Space crops to required standards.
• Monitor and report pest and disease issues.
• Weed and maintain growing areas.
• Pot and plug young plants.
• Operate machinery safely and efficiently.
• Move benches through the growing process.
• Maintain hygiene, quality and food safety standards.
• Record information using company systems.
• Support continuous improvement and waste reduction initiatives.

Skills

Horticulture

Pest recognition

Food safety

Health & safety

Job description

Vitacress Herbs, Pagham Road, Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Job Description

Posted Tuesday 4 August 2026 at 00:00

Location: Runcton
Hours: typically7am – 3pm, 5 days over 7 including weekends
Salary: £12.90 per hour, paid to you monthly
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Join the Vitacress Growing Team!

Are you looking for a hands-on role where you can work with plants, learn new skills, and be part of a team that produces high-quality fresh herbs for customers across the UK?

We are looking for a Growing Operative to join our team in Runcton. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in their work, and has a keen eye for detail.

No previous horticultural experience? Don't worry! Full training will be provided for the right candidate.

What You'll Be Doing

• Sowing seeds and supporting crop growth
• Spacing crops to the required standards
• Monitoring and reporting pest, disease, and crop issues
• Weeding and maintaining growing areas
• Potting and plugging young plants
• Operating machinery safely and efficiently
• Moving benches throughout the growing process
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene, quality, and food safety
• Recording basic information using company systems
• Supporting continuous improvement and waste reduction initiatives
• Working safely and following Health & Safety procedures at all times

What We're Looking For

• Reliable and hardworking
• A great team player
• Able to work independently when required
• Adaptable and willing to learn new skills
• Detail-oriented and quality-focused
• Comfortable working in a practical, hands-on environment

• Horticulture or growing experience
• Pest and disease recognition
• Food Safety awareness
• Health & Safety knowledge

Don't worry if you don't tick every box — training and development will be provided.

This role involves:

• Working with plants and crops
• Long periods of standing and walking
• Working as part of a supportive team

Why Join Vitacress?

• Structured training and development
• Opportunity to gain new skills
• Supportive team environment
• Work for a leading fresh produce business
• Career progression opportunities within a growing company

At Vitacress, many of our employees develop their careers and progress into more senior roles across the business.

Ready to Grow Your Career?

If you're looking for a rewarding role where no two days are the same and where you can make a real contribution, we'd love to hear from you.

Vitacress Herbs , based just outside historic Chichester, West Sussex, is a primary supplier of Herb and horticulture products in the UK. With our 23-acre site covered in specialist glass houses, we take immense pride in our work ensuring our consumers have a fresh, quality product to enhance their home cooking or enhance their garden environment. We take pleasure in ensuring the best possible standards and we will empower you to do the same. From the way we grow our products, to the relationships we maintain with customers, everyone knows exactly what is going on. We are authentic and grounded. At the centre of everything is a trust that you can feel every day at work. From the herbs that are grown on site; to the investment in facilities and the growth of the business; to growing and nurturing out talented employees, growing is truly at the heart of what we do. Join us and become a trusted partner in our business.

Vitacress Herbs, Pagham Road, Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom