Forest Works Manager Apprenticeship
The University of Cumbria is home to the National School of Forestry (NSF) in Ambleside, the largest provider of undergraduate forestry and woodland courses in England. This Higher-Level Apprenticeship offers unqualified Forest Works Managers, or those seeking to progress into this role with a taught route via the apprenticeship.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to commission work on a forestry site and oversee the safe and effective implementation of it. Management of activities may include tree felling, timber harvesting, ground preparation, tree establishment, tree health, access and infrastructure works, habitat management, and arboricultural works.
The programme is in the design stage, but we are inviting expressions of interest from employers who wish to upskill their workforce.
Over a period of fifteen months, you will complete a series of learning units, with taught input and work-based learning. The units will typically be a combination of face-to-face delivery, supplemented online learning where appropriate. Face-to-face delivery will be carefully designed to maximise time away from work, and the location might be varied subject to the knowledge and skills being covered.
- To understand health, safety and environmental integrity
- To be able to demonstrate operational oversight for a range of forest operations
- To be able to plan and maintain site safety and public welfare
- To be able to shape environmental stewardship
- To operate in line with FISA Guidance
Government funding rules require that an apprentice must have the right to live and work in the UK, must be in employment, paid at least the legal minimum wage and have a written and signed agreement for the apprenticeship with their employer. The minimum duration periods for an apprenticeship set in each Apprenticeship Standard is based on an apprentice working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Where the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours, the minimum duration of the apprenticeship must be increased on a pro-rata basis. Selection of apprentices (in England) is principally an employer-led activity.
Funding for the apprenticeship is provided through the Department for Education (DfE) and is paid in the following way:
- Levy paying employers with sufficient funds in their digital account – 100% funding.
- Non-levy payers – 95% ESFA funding, 5% Employer co-funding. Non-levy paying companies will be asked to pay their 5% of the full cost of the apprenticeship at the start of the programme.
- Non-levy-paying organisations must register on the government's Digital Apprenticeship Service and reserve funds for their apprenticeship prior to the programme starting, unless they are being funded by levy-transfer.
All apprentices must be interviewed, assessed and offered a position by an employer before being admitted to the apprenticeship programme. Although the University may receive direct enquires and filter these before passing to prospective employers, apprentices must apply directly via an employer. After acceptance by an employer, the University of Cumbria will require a formal application, which it will assess according to the programme entry criteria.
