To help mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, has welcomed Forestry and Land Scotland’s efforts to highlight the importance of apprenticeships in helping to fill some of the roles vital to forestry.

FLS has 28 apprentices across Scotland that work in a variety of roles, such as in mechanical and engineering services, civil engineering, and as wildlife rangers or crafts persons.

In addition to apprenticeships, FLS regularly attends job fairs, engages with STEM programmes and regularly visits schools & colleges.

Welcoming the successful approach to encouraging more people into forestry, Ms Gougeon, said;

“As a mainstay in Scotland’s response to the climate and biodiversity emergency, forestry as a career choice has never been more attractive option for young people and those who are looking to change career and do more fulfilling work.

“Forestry requires the input of a wide range of disciplines, the on-the-ground forestry jobs as well as a huge number of behind the scenes roles.

“It is a hugely important sector and across the board, forestry businesses are crying out for more people.

“Apprenticeships are just one of the routes in to a rewarding career with FLS and I would encourage anyone with an interest to find out more.”

This year the organisation has also engaged with the Scottish School of Forestry on the new work-based degree options that offers four students, on completion of their Higher National Certificate, a three-year contract to work in a trainee forester role to complete their Degree.

This replaces the one year mid-year student forester placements we have offered for many years.

Graeme Prest, Director of Land Management and Regions, added;

“Our apprentices really enjoy the work they do and the opportunities that working with us opens up for them.

“This year we will be attending more job fairs, school and college events than we have before to help encourage more people – from school leavers to career changers – to consider forestry as a career option.”

Anyone looking to find out more about FLS forestry career options, training and jobs, can get more information online 

Four FLS apprentices are in contention for this year’s Lantra Scotland Awards for Land Based and Aquaculture skills : Wildlilfe Ranger, Fenna Whittaker (Glasgow); Wildlife Ranger Apprentice, Murray Henderson (Newton Stewart); Apprentice Craftsperson, Kirsty Gibson (Lochgilphead); and Apprentice Crafts Person, Stewart Smith (Cromarty).