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It is predicted that there will by an estimated decrease of 300 in numbers employed 2001-06. Business numbers are expected to remain static 2001 to 2006.
It is also important to assess the likely 'job opportunities' created through the need to replace people who retire, change career, as well as any net demand created through employment expansion. Even where employment is declining overall, net occupational demand can still generate a significant number of 'job opportunities' and therefore related training requirements.
Future Skill Needs
Formal training (with certification) is reported to be increasingly paramount
for those working in the forestry industry, driven by regulatory requirements,
mechanisation, the use of ICT and the need for business skills over the
next few years. The increase in harvesting volume will generate a demand
for establishment and maintenance skills. Specific training needs are
in harvesting operations, where there is believed to be a shortage of
skilled machine operators and foremen. Other areas of need include risk
assessment, contract management, job planning and costing, and knowledge
of woodland grant schemes. Generic skills such as communication and information
technology are also required to ensure cohesion between all the sectors
in the wood supply chain.
Skills Supply - Education and Training (source:
Lantra)
Current provision
The forestry industry is relatively small and spread widely across the UK.
Some colleges offer courses in forestry and/or arboriculture (usually in
combination with another subject such as agriculture) and the industry is
supported by many skilled staff trained by the Forestry Commission. The
industry's previous reliance on recruitment of technically skilled Forest
Enterprise staff is now exhausted as Forestry Commission staff direct employment
has fallen. The Forestry and Arboriculture Safety Training Council (FASTCO)
maintains occupational standards and makes them available to all workers.
Qualifications
There are currently 127 qualifications available to the forestry and arboriculture
industries mostly in FC/FD, NC/ND and HNC/HND provision. The most used qualification
is the SQA NC Forestry/Timber Production at notional level 3. The least
used qualifications include a number of NVQ/SVQs as well as the Edexcel
and SQA HNC/HNDs. The NVQ/SVQs will be revised as part of the standards
review and the Edexcel and City and Guilds provision is all being rationalised
over the next year. As well as removal and revision of qualifications Edexcel
will be introducing a FC and FD in Countryside and Forestry and a NC and
ND in Forestry and Arboriculture. Once all the changes have been made there
will be no obvious gaps in provision for the industry.
Estimated Required Workforce Skill Levels Compared to Estimated Workforce Qualifications
There is a lack of qualified people at NVQ/SVQ level 3 and above. It is possible that many workers with low/no qualifications have considerable skills at higher levels although not evidenced by formal qualifications.
Vacancies and Recruitment Difficulties (External Skill Shortages)
Only 16% of forestry businesses surveyed by Lantra reported a current vacancy,
but 36% a recruitment difficulty over the past 12 months. 63% reported difficulties
recruiting unskilled workers. Reasons for recruitment difficulty were reported
as:
Internal Skill Gaps
29% of forestry businesses reported a skills gap within their workforce.
Business respondents associated their most significant skills gaps with
employees from the more highly skilled occupations, see below:
The most significant skills gaps were job specific skills, basic information technology and showing initiative.
skills needed
Alongside planting and felling trees forestry workers do fencing, drainage, etc
Some of the qualities you need are:
Some jobs will only be available to self-employed contractors, so if you want to run your own business you will need all the qualities above especially working under pressure, organisational skills and handling difficult situations and people! But you will also need experience of:
Many of skills can be gained through short courses at your local college or the industry training bodies mentioned below. Trade associations can also advise on some of these issues.
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