Current and aspiring foresters and arboriculturists are set to
benefit from an additional £1 million in funding, which is being
allocated to fund training courses in forestry and arboriculture
across England, following an unprecedented demand.
The funding is primarily aimed at those considering changing
their careers to one in forestry or arboriculture, as well as
those already working in the sector. As the industry continues to
grow as a result of the Government’s £675 million tree programme,
the funding will create more green jobs and boost the workforce
where over 30,000 people are already dedicated to expanding and
protecting our precious woodlands, contributing more than £2
billion to our economy every year.
The new funding will cover training courses in a range of areas,
including in:
- Chainsaw operation;
- Operating heavy machinery;
- Planning and planting new woodland;
- Deer management;
- Marketing and selling timber;
- Aerial tree pruning; and
- Branch removal
The Forestry and Arboriculture Fund – formerly known as the
Forestry Training Fund - has received exceptionally high uptake
since its launch in February this year, with over 150 short
course training providers having registered to offer courses and
1,100 training places already funded for the next two years.
The fund has today been extended to cover arboriculture courses,
with £250,000 ringfenced specifically for courses which cover the
care, management and safety of amenity trees, through skills such
as aerial tree pruning, branch removal, and assisted felling.
Defra Forestry Minister, said:
As tree-planting and woodlands across the country increase, so
must our forestry workforce.
We are committed to growing the sector and increasing green jobs
which will be made possible through this significant funding of
Forestry and Arboriculture courses, as we continue to ensure at
least 16.5% of the country is covered in trees by 2050.
Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford
said:
England’s forestry sector plays an essential part in creating
resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural
environment, helping meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a
sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health
and wellbeing.
The additional funding provided through the Forestry and
Arboriculture Training Fund, will ensure that more people across
the country, from all backgrounds, are able to build and
diversify their skills in forestry. I encourage anyone looking to
join the sector or upskill to apply today.
The Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund is already playing
an instrumental role in helping deliver the government’s England
Trees Action Plan, which sets out how we will shape the country
for future generations through a significant increase in
tree-planting and woodland creation, which is supported by over
£675 million from the Nature for Climate Fund.
Early application is encouraged due to the unprecedented demand
for courses. Please view our list of training providers and apply
for funding on GOV.UK: Forestry and Arboriculture
Training Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Notes to editors:
- The Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund covers the full
costs of the courses and is available throughout England,
although providers or attendees will have to cover their own
expenses such as travel.
- Please view the Forestry Training Fund for more information
and a new searchable course list to help you find out what’s
available before you apply: Forestry and
Arboriculture Training Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- This announcement also follows the forestry degree-level
Professional Forestry Apprenticeship Programme which opened
earlier in 2022, a first-of-its-kind initiative to foster a
growing, highly skilled and diverse workforce within the forestry
sector. The programme is now underway and applications are
currently closed.
