Forestry Commission England has joined forces with businesses from across forestry, arboriculture, horticulture and landscaping to begin developing a new set of top quality apprenticeships under the Government’s Trailblazer programme.
The 38 land-based employers will join others from across 37 sectors in designing new apprenticeships to meet the skills needs of their industries.
The programme, run by BIS, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, will see organisations working together to ensure they set the right standard to get the skilled workers of the future that they need.
Forestry businesses of all sizes will take part in the Forestry Apprenticeship; from large-scale organisations such as UPM Tilhill, to smaller businesses such as Herefordshire-based Say it with Wood. The Principal Employer Group for the Forester’s Apprentice is being chaired by Ian Barrow of Bartlett Tree Experts.
Nick Boles MP, Minister of State jointly for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, said:
“I congratulate the forestry industry for the key role it is playing in developing new top-quality apprenticeships.
“Through the Trailblazers initiative, companies in collaboration with their industry partners will give people the skills they need to thrive and our businesses the resources they need to compete.”
Ian Gambles, Director of Forestry Commission England, commented:
“The Forestry Commission is dedicated to supporting the growth of forestry education and skills for the future.
“Everyone involved in forests and woodlands today has a duty to play their part. The collaboration generated through the new Trailblazer scheme will help to give our next generation of forestry employees – from those working in practical forestry, through to mapping and business management – the scientific and practical skills needed to manage our woodlands.”
The Principal Employer Group for the Forestry Apprenticeship is chaired by Ian Barrow of Bartlett Tree Experts. Other organisations involved in the Forestry Group are Duchy of Cornwall, Fountains Forestry & Utilities, UPM TilHill, Say it with Wood, Euroforest, Acorn Environmental Management Group, Abberton Rural Training and Lockhart Garratt.
More information on the Trailblazer initiative can be found atwww.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills.
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