Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber SCQF Level 5

The land-based and environmental sector currently accounts for approximately 115,700 employees and 24,500 businesses in Scotland. The trees and timber industry plays an important role in the sector with two main streams of work arboriculture and forestry.

Forestry can be broken down further with forestry establishment and forestry harvesting. The forestry stream of the industry within the UK is estimated to represent 1.1% of
businesses within the sector with a total estimated workforce of 11,716 and 1528 estimated businesses. The arboriculture stream of the industry within the UK is estimated to represent 3.1% of businesses within the sector, with a total estimated workforce of 23,766 and 4548 estimated businesses.

Forestry is defined as the science and practice of all tree management, including forest and woodland management, arboriculture, urban forestry, environmental forestry and research, education and training in all these fields.

Arboriculture and forestry both involve working with and around trees. Forests and woodland are an important resource for timber, amenity and recreation, tourism and biodiversity. Forestry focuses on the management of forests and woodland, whereas arboriculture focuses on the cultivation, management and care for individual trees, or groups of trees, with the primary aim of maintaining them for amenity purposes.

The industry is highly specialised and can involve working with a vast array of machines, materials and equipment; from planting stock and chemicals through to chainsaws, harvesters and computer software. A wide range of skills and knowledge is therefore required as there is a significant variety of jobs and tasks involved.

The technical levels of the industry’s workforce are vital for the delivery of national forest and green space strategies and are therefore fundamental to the sector’s health. Working for government, management companies and individuals alike, those in the industry may work alone or in small teams, thereby requiring a good knowledge of health and safety legislation and lone working policies. In addition to the technical skills and knowledge gained, those completing a Trees and Timber Modern Apprenticeship will also increase their knowledge and understanding of these important aspects of the working environment.

Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber SCQF Level 5 website