A brand new name for foresters of the long run has gone out for the following cohort of the revolutionary Skilled Forester Apprenticeship programme.
The forestry and timber sector performs a key position in making certain our treasured woods and forests are wholesome and proceed to flourish for generations to return, serving to the nation meet its web zero and surroundings targets, supporting financial development, and offering a number of social advantages.
The three-year, paid improvement alternative is open to highschool leavers, graduates or anybody in search of a change in profession path and a rewarding job within the pure surroundings – with no day the identical.
In whole, the scheme has already kickstarted 78 careers in forestry, and the reopening of the programme will provide extra folks the prospect to be a part of a brand new cohort of foresters. The Forestry Fee kick-started the scheme in 2022, and an growing variety of different organisations and companies have taken the chance to host apprentices over the next years.
This enhance for forestry comes throughout of Nationwide Apprenticeships Week (Monday 10 February to Sunday 16 February), which celebrates the talents and worth which apprenticeships create. Kickstarting financial development by offering good employment alternatives throughout the nation, together with in rural areas, is an important a part of the Authorities’s Plan for Change and apprenticeships like these are a good way to present folks entry to a brand new profession.
Forestry Fee Chief Government Richard Stanford mentioned:
“The Skilled Forester Apprenticeship programme presents folks the prospect to earn whereas they be taught. College students have a mixture of educational examine and technical expertise within the nice open air and on the finish of the programme can obtain a bachelor’s diploma and chartered forester {qualifications}.
“The continued success of this distinctive programme is heartening to see – folks from all types of backgrounds and ages have been capable of kickstart a brand new profession. I urge anybody who’s all for discovering a vocation taking care of our timber, woods and forests, and who desires to work in a sector with a lot of alternatives, to use at this time.”
Apprentice foresters from earlier years have pointed to the number of every day experiences, and the entry to a variety of experience amongst the advantages offered by this apprenticeship programme.
Apprentices on the scheme take pleasure in a mixture of hands-on expertise with the Forestry Fee and educational research in forestry administration led by the College of Cumbria. There’s additionally potential for wider sector placements to additional develop their expertise and expertise and enhance future employment prospects.
Present apprentice Zoltan Varju mentioned:
“Nature has been a lifelong ardour of mine and getting the chance to work to ensure now we have wholesome woodlands has been incredible.
“I’ve additionally been glad to be educated whereas working, in order that I can earn a wage whereas I’m studying as an alternative of tuition charges. I’d advocate an apprenticeship for anybody in search of a profession in forestry, it presents an ideal number of experiences and it’s nice to be taught from folks with years of expertise within the job.
Present apprentice Julia Churchill-Angus mentioned:
“Having spent the primary a part of my profession creating and delivering environmental coverage, I wished to get extra sensible environmental administration expertise.
“Forestry appeared like the proper means to do that. As a Growth Woodland Officer, I’m additionally finishing a level and that’s been an ideal praise to my job with a lot of educational and sensible coaching as properly.”
Upon completion of the programme, profitable graduates will earn a Skilled Forester Apprenticeship (equal to Degree 6), a BSc (Hons) Skilled Forester and can be capable to apply for Chartered Forester standing with the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
