Apprenticeship training course

Professional forester (integrated degree) (level 6)

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Information about Professional forester (integrated degree) (level 6)

Provide expert advice on the woodlands and forests.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Terminology used in forestry and silviculture.
  • Survey and assessment techniques for information gathering e.g. techniques for constraints and opportunity mapping, use of LIDAR, remote sensing, satellite imagery.
  • Legislation, industry guidelines and best practice in Health and Safety for Forestry including Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), FISA guidance e.g. Managing Health and Safety in Forestry.
  • Forestry legislation and governance including principles of the Forestry Act (1967) and relevant amendments, UK Forestry Standard and UK Woodland Assurance standard.
  • Sources and use of Woodland Management Plan templates and tools.
  • The factors affecting tree growth and woodland condition including species selection.
  • Interpretation of silvicultural data to include analysis and predictive models for example, natural capital assessment, climate change impacts.
  • Silvicultural techniques for woodland management, for example selective thinning, clearfell.
  • Manual, digital and remote silvicultural mensuration and survey techniques, for example Blue Book, digital reloscope, satellite imagery.
  • The forest industry business and market requirements and sector intelligence including timber and land markets & values, grant and incentive regimes, investment forestry, production forecasts.
  • Woodland creation and forest design principles, including regulatory requirements, effects of land use change, forest resilience, species selection, ecology and use of decision support tools.
  • Strategies and techniques for stakeholder engagement for example consultations, public relations, use of media.
  • Silvicultural systems in relation to carbon modelling and accounting, sequestration and climate change mitigation.
  • Carbon markets, the Woodland Guarantee, the Woodland Carbon Code and incentives such as the Woodland Carbon Planning Grant.
  • Techniques for management of own performance.
  • Principles of relationship management e.g. volunteers, contractors or staff.
  • Legislation and regulation relating to wider land use for example Public Rights of Way, Countryside Rights of Way, Town and Country Planning Act, use of UAV’s, Countryside and Wildlife Act, European Protected Species, Statutory Plant Health Notices.
  • Financial management including grant applications, budgeting, contract management, timber tenders and sales.
  • Planning, resourcing and procurement of forest works, including seasonal and operational implications for working and impact on the environment, in line with UKFS requirements and guidance.
  • Responsibilities in relation to risk to people including dynamic site and or operation risk assessment, lone working, safety software (for example what3words), promoting safety culture, public safety.
  • Factors affecting the planning, management and mitigation of risk on a forest works site (Forest Works Supervisor role), for example biosecurity, pollution control, environmental factors.
  • Operational management of establishment, maintenance, harvesting and restock sites, including roles and responsibilities of landowner, works supervisor, contractors and sub-contractors (in line with FISA guidance and industry best practice).
  • Safe methods for timber handling, storage, haulage and roading.

  Skills

  • Navigate to work sites using tools (e.g. maps, compasses, location apps, GPS)
  • Create maps to represent forestry / woodland sites using both paper and digital formats.
  • Identify, classify and prioritise different sources of silvicultural information and data
  • Use digital technology to conduct desk-based surveys.
  • Apply accurate mensuration and survey techniques.
  • Create Woodland Management / Creation Design Plan
  • Produce and manage silvicultural operational assessments / schemes of work / operational and harvesting plans.
  • Develop complex silviculture modelling scenarios including carbon balance, land use, landowner objectives, timber and/or other income.
  • Communicate with others using different methods, for example digital, written, verbal, presentational (maps & sketches).
  • Establish and manage internal and external relationships, for example contractors, media, stakeholders.
  • Select and apply online silvicultural tool or application for task, for example MyForest, Felling Licence Online, Ecological Site Classification Tool, ForestGales
  • Select and apply silvicultural systems to achieve management objectives.
  • Manage risks to the environment including pollution, biosecurity, habitat degradation.
  • Identify and manage risks to self, employees, public and others using dynamic site and operational risk assessment according to FISA Guidance.
  • Collate, analyse and interpret silvicultural data and make recommendations.
  • Develop and maintain information networks.
  • Create and manage financial models and budgets.
  • Prepare and manage financial and contractual documents (e.g. tenders, sales contracts, grant agreements).
  • Manage, maintain and record own performance, professional development and currency of silvicultural knowledge.

  Behaviours

  • Act with integrity, for example being open and transparent in dealing with clients and respecting their confidentiality. Takes full responsibility for their actions.
  • Communicates respectfully towards clients and colleagues and takes into account cultural sensitivities and business practices
  • Act professionally, providing a standard of service based on sound business evidence.
  • Adopt and promote a safety culture within the organisation and acts with regard to health, safety and wellbeing for self and others.
  • Embed sustainable working practices.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Qualification level: 6; Equal to degree
• Course duration: 36 months
• Maximum funding: £18,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.

View more information about Professional forester (integrated degree) (level 6) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.