| Forestry Education in the UK |
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Usually there are several entry levels into the forestry profession, either as a technician, forester or district manager. In addition there are many specialists who work in forestry e.g. rangers, economists, landscape architects etc. For a technician grade you can go to a specialist college courses which provides vocational courses and also a good practical grounding in forestry. The qualifications vary obviously but you should have studied the basic sciences in secondary school (even if they don't ask for these it will give you a good grounding). It is also good to have some practical forestry experience so contact your nearest forestry company or consultant and try to get a job during your holidays or even take a year out before college. For higher levels of entry you need usually to have got a forestry degree or even higher (MSc or Ph.D.). These are taken at universities. Often after taking a forestry or related degree there are options on taking professional exams after a few years working in forestry. A forester has to have many skills although many tend to specialise in one particular aspect A forester has to have many skills although many tend to specialise in one particular aspect. The basic job entails a knowledge of soils, botany/biology, engineering, climate, business studies etc. as the forester may be involved in a range of jobs. These may include building roads, preparing sites for planting, tending the trees (which may involve wildlife management through to an understanding of how herbicides work), harvesting and then marketing the products of the forest (which could include Christmas Trees and foliage!!). The job can be exciting and very varied and what I have described is just the tip of the range of jobs we may have to do. As far as pay scales go it obviously depends on what level you are at. In general the pay may be slightly lower than other industries but you get a lot of job satisfaction thrown in for free if you enjoy the outdoors. If you are interested you should contact a local forester and ask to be taken round. Also it may be useful to look up and contact one of the forestry organisations in the UK. Most of us in the industry also join one or more of the organisations (some also welcome non foresters and students). It is a good place to meet other foresters and discuss a range of forestry topics - it really is to be recommended. In the UK we also have the Forest Education Inititiative which can provide your school or community group with information see Web Site Bye for now Nick Ananin at Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Forestry Colleges and Universities |
| GAOF directory - directory of Forestry Colleges and Universities |
| Institute of Chartered Foresters - professional exams |
| Other Training resources |
| GAOF on-line training links |
| University for Industry - Sheffield has been chosen as the location for the University for Industry headquarters. For further information contact Hannah Mulligan |
| Career Services: |
| Forestry:
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| National Grid for Learning - Career Development |
| Career solutions |
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| Future Careers |
| JIIG-CAL Careers Research Centre University of Edinburgh e-mail |
| Proteus is the UK's largest Careers Guidance and Training Organisation |
| The Institute of Careers Guidance is the UK's leading professional body promoting high standards in careers guidance on behalf of careers advisers, those interested in careers guidance and those who may want to find out what careers guidance is - and how they can use it. Its members work in careers services, in schools, colleges and universities, in training and enterprise councils or local enterprise companies, in private guidance agencies and as freelance consultants. The Institute of Careers Guidance e-mail |
| Financial Aid |
| "New Deal" is aimed at helping 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed over 6 months (they could even be forestry graduates who need further skills training) but there is also assistance for 25 year olds who have been out of work 2 or more years. |