Jobs

5 Acre Farm (Backwell) - Shop Assistant

We are looking for an outgoing person with an interest in local and sustainable food to staff our Farm Shop in Backwell on Sundays. This is a rarely seen opening in a beautifull location – amongst a passionate, friendly team and local community. Want to find out more? Read on to learn more about our farm, and this great on-site role.

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The role involves setting up and packing down the shop, serving customers, and keeping the shop and other public areas of the farm clean and tidy, as well as some simple farm tasks such as opening polytunnels and watering plants. The role may also involve some tasks around running the onsite sauna ‘Unfold’ – this is to be confirmed.

Job: Sales Assistant, 5 Acre Farm, Backwell, North Somerset BS48 3BQ

Dates: April – Oct 2026 (possibly ongoing beyond then)

Wage: National Minimum Wage for age plus statutory holiday day and employer pension contributions

Hours:  Sundays 9:30am – 4:30pm

We will interview as and when strong applications are received, so encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

About 5 Acre Farm:

We are a small mixed farm in Backwell, 6 miles southwest of Bristol. We are run along agroecological principles without the use of artificial chemicals, and we put soil health at the centre of what we do. We currently have six team members each working between 1 and 4 days a week, in a range of growing and community engagement roles.

Our main focus is on veg production, but we also have a pick-your-own flower patch, 10 active beehives and a young orchard. We are a Community Interest Company and are committed to fostering local engagement with sustainable local food production and nature connection through volunteer days, pick-your-own flowers and on-farm events. There is a popular sauna onsite, which is a separate business to the farm.

We produce a wide range of veg, fresh and dried flowers, plants and honey for sale. In our farm shop we also sell bread, pastries, eggs, tea and coffee and various cold drinks and snacks. We are linked to the Tobacco Factory family and were established in 2018 as part of their mission to contribute to sustainable local food systems. We retail our produce through our Farm Shop and our market stall in Bristol, and also supply the Tobacco Factory as well as assorted other local shops, restaurants and veg box schemes.

Job Description:

The role is a great opportunity for someone who cares about locally-grown, nature-friendly food to play a role in supplying that produce to local people. The farm shop is in a small timber-frame barn and  there are lots of outdoor public areas and tasks, so the role would suit someone who likes being in nature. The role would also suit someone who likes working independently, as you will usually be the only team member onsite during your working day.

Typical tasks include:

• • Opening and closing the shop and keeping it stocked through the day

• • Serving customers produce, bread and teas and coffees (filter coffee, no barista training required)

• • Showing pick-your-own flower customers around the flower patch

• • Keeping the shop and other public areas clean and tidy

• • Greeting guests for events in the stretch tent

• • General administrative support for the shop (e.g. updating prices, posting about events)

• • Gardening jobs in the flower patch once other tasks are finished (eg deadheading, weeding)

Essential Attributes:

• • Outgoing and polite personality

• • Eagerness to learn about the work of the farm and share this knowledge with members of the public

• • Self-motivated worker with an eye for detail and quality control

Desirable Attributes:

• • Some retail or hospitality experience

• • Knowledge of the qualities and seasonality of a wide range of fruit and veg

• • Understanding of and enthusiasm for the principles of organic/regenerative farming

• • Some knowledge of cut flowers

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV (or any queries) to Jessica – events@fiveacre.farm.