Forestry worker apprenticeships

Environment and land

Forestry worker apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

a university course

a college course

an apprenticeship

volunteering

graduate training scheme

University

You could study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

forestry
arboriculture
countryside management
forest management
woodland ecology and conservation

You may choose to study a degree accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters. You'll usually need:

1 or 2 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could take a college course, to learn some of the skills needed in this job. Courses include:

Level 2 Certificate in Land-based Technology
Level 3 Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture

You'll usually need 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a Level 2 course. You'll need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a Level 3 course.

Apprenticeship

The following Apprenticeships can help you get into this role:

Level 2 Arborist
Level 2 Forest operative

You'll usually need some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent.

Volunteering

Volunteering for a woodland or wildlife charity is a good way to get experience, which could help you when looking for work.

Other Routes

You can apply for a graduate training scheme with Forestry England.

Forestry worker apprenticeships - what it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

the ability to use your initiative
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
leadership skills
knowledge of geography
the ability to work well with others
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
knowledge of maths
excellent verbal communication skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

be able to cope with working at height
have a Certificate of Competence, if you carry out hazardous tasks using a chainsaw

Forestry worker apprenticeships - what you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

clear undergrowth for planting
plant new tree seedlings
dig drainage systems
thin out densely wooded areas
fell trees, strip branches and chop up tree trunks
protect the forest against insect pests and disease
clear footpaths and nature trails, and maintain car parks
put up fences, gates, signs and public information notices
check and maintain tools and equipment
prevent forest fires

Working environment

You could work in a park or in woodland. Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers. You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression - Forestry worker apprenticeships

You could progress to senior forest worker or become a forest or arboricultural officer. You could also become a forest ranger, working with wardens or conservation officers to look after wildlife.

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Considering an Apprenticeship?

There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

Paid Training
Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
Range of career opportunities
There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
Earn & learn
As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
Great career prospects
Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
Learn on the job
There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

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