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Opportunities with Rural Payments Agency

Environment and land Government services
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Opportunities with Rural Payments Agency

Introduction Into Rural Payments Agency

The RPA is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and part of the Civil Service. 

They deliver over £2 billion in payments to farmers, traders and landowners each year. The RPA is responsible for land management initiatives and other rural programmes and is critical to the campaign to use their land more sustainably and improve biodiversity.


Whilst working at the Rural Payments Agency, you will work across a range of diverse projects and goals, including:

  • Helping to keep UK well fed by providing supermarkets with top quality meat and dairy produce
  • Funding super-fast broadband to the UK’s most rural areas to keep them connected
  • Managing cattle passports to track their movements across the UK’s farms, ensuring a healthy cow population!

RPA's projects have direct impacts on everyone in the UK and you can be a part of their success by applying to the Operational Delivery Apprenticeship.
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If you are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, want to make a difference and work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment then RPA's apprenticeships could be for you

Apprenticeships with RPA

As a Team Member within Operational Delivery in the RPA, you will be supporting colleagues to deliver excellent customer service to the many rural communities across the country from September 2021, with 35 apprenticeship places available in Newcastle, York and Nottingham.


Why should you apply for an RPA Apprenticeship? 


You will be involved in a number of diverse and thought-provoking tasks to support their customers, including making payments, processing applications, managing documents and providing assistance over the phone or via email.


  • You will earn while you learn! RPA offer a competitive salary and put a huge focus on your learning and development.  
  • You will achieve a qualification – the equivalent of an A level for free.  
  • You’ll be part of a wider family in Defra who are committed to playing a major role in people’s day to day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. 
  • You’ll receive a generous Annual Leave & Bank Holiday Allowance 
  • You’ll be entitled to staff bonuses, employee discounts and the bicycle loan scheme to name just a few! 
  • RPA believe in diversity and equality in their workforce and have strong networks with both  


Application Journey; 

  • Submit your application and complete an online test assessing your customer service skills.
  • Complete a personal statement of no more than 750 words explaining why you think you would be perfect for the job.
  • If successful you will be invited to a video interview on launchpad to assess you against the strengths needed for the Civil Service.
  • Successful candidates will be notified of a job offer!
The ODP apprenticeship not only increased my skills, qualifications, and network, but also my confidence.
The RPA is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and part of the Civil Service. They deliver over £2 billion in payments to farmers, traders and landowners each year.

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