A lack of new entrants into forestry threatens ambitious national targets for more tree planting as we strive for net zero. Here, Forestry Journal finds out how Lantra is encouraging recruits through its new website by speaking to two people with plenty of years in the woods.
TWO people with vast experience of the industry say there has never been a better time to get into forestry, with many exciting roles on offer.
Stephen Hailes and John Williamson both agree Lantra’s new website can help link the right people with positions offering good pay and opportunities to progress.
Stephen worked in several roles in his career, including field studies of the pine weevil Hylobius abietis for the FC. He then spent 18 months working in the Finnish timber industry, before settling into a forestry career on his return to the UK. He now runs Dumfries-based H&W Training alongside John, and the recent increase in people enrolling in forestry-related courses is encouraging.
READ MORE: How Lantra can help kick-start forestry careers
New trainees are coming from many backgrounds and finding different routes into forestry, including the more academic courses for workers to process grant and planning applications or manage health and safety.
“Of course, there is also the practical side, with people taking up jobs planting and maintaining trees, and harvesting timber,” he said.
John started out in commercial forestry in 1984 and has been at the coalface for much of his career, operating the machinery for contractors across Scotland.
The most acute skills shortage has been in these practical roles, with one major historical barrier being the employment conditions. Workers used to be employed on a piecework basis, offering no security for those with families and a mortgage to pay if they were sick or injured.
John said today’s industry is much different, with positive change seeing professional contractors and private estates offering much better pay and conditions than before. He pointed out it’s not the extreme physical job it once was either, with greatly increased mechanisation.
At recent taster days run by John, attendees had the chance to drive a £280,000 John Deere forwarder – and there was plenty of interest.
John said: “It requires good hand-eye co-ordination, an aptitude for machinery operation and use of the latest digital technology, which many folk are used to now. We are also getting a lot of women into the industry and they get on fantastic, too.”
READ MORE: Forestry: Potential operators given taste of John Deere forwarder
Stephen said that traditionally there has not been a lot of information for those looking to get into forestry roles, but the Lantra website highlights the options available.
“It gives a good starting point and outlines how to get the right training. That’s crucial, as you can’t make a start without basic qualifications.”
He added that the cost of training can be reduced through various funding programmes, including the Forestry Commission’s Forestry Training Fund, which offers 100-per-cent grants for those living and working in England who want to build and diversify their skills in forestry.
Demand has been high, so new applicants can only apply for funding of courses starting after 1 April, 2024.
He said: “These incentives, combined with plenty of work on offer, mean there’s never been a better time to get into the industry.”
This article originally appeared in our feature 'How Lantra can help kick-start careers in the woods'. You can read this here.
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