The content of these Pathways have been agreed by Lantra. These are the only apprenticeship Pathways in the Agriculture & Environment sector approved for use in Wales that are eligible for Welsh Government funding.
Learning Programme Content
The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:
- Qualifications,
- Essential Skills
- On/off the job training
The total minimum credit value required for the Level 2 Trees and Timber is 59 credits.
The total minimum credit value required for the Level 3 Trees and Timber 60 credits
Duration of the Apprenticeship
The duration for the Foundation Apprenticeship is 18 - 24 months (flex) and the Apprenticeship is 18 – 24 months (flex)
Entry requirements
Level 2: Trees and Timber
There are no specific entry requirements for the Trees and Timber Foundation Apprenticeship, however, there are qualifications and/or experience that will help learners prior to starting:
- Level 1 Certificate in Land-based Operations
- Level 1 Certificate/Diploma in Land-based Studies
- Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma in Work-based Land-based Operations
- Have previously worked in, or are currently working within, the industry
- Voluntary experience within the trees and timber industry
- GCSEs
Learners who have completed the Welsh Baccalaureate may have completed units or short courses which will provide underpinning knowledge towards the Foundation Apprenticeship, this will be assessed during an initial assessment allowing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where appropriate.
There may be some sub-sectors of the trees and timber industry that apprentices under 18 are not permitted to work in or use certain equipment due to legislation.
Level 3: Trees and Timber
The trees and timber industry want the entry requirements for the Apprenticeship to be flexible, which could include the following:
- Foundation Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber
- Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber
- NVQ Level 2 in Forestry or Arboriculture
- Level 2 Award for an Advanced Ground-based Operator (Felling, Individual Uprooted
- Trees and Multiple Windblown Trees)
- Level 2 Award in Techniques for Dealing with Damaged Trees
- Other suitable Level 2 qualification
- Practical experience within the trees and timber industry
- 3 GCSEs (A*-C)/A Levels plus relevant practical experience within the Trees and Timber industry
Learners who have completed the Welsh Baccalaureate or Pathways to Apprenticeships May have completed units or short courses which will provide underpinning knowledge towards the Apprenticeship, this will be assessed during an initial assessment allowing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where appropriate.
Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)
Level 2: Trees and Timber
Level 2: Trees and Timber Qualifications
Participants must achieve one of the following competence and knowledge qualifications below.
| Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| City & Guilds | C00/0523/3 600/7616/1 | 37 | 370 | Competence | English Only |
| Level 2 Award in Business for the Environment and Land-based Sector | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| City & Guilds | C00/0284/6 500/9311/3 | 10 | 100 | Knowledge | English Only |
| Level 2 Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| City & Guilds | C00/0283/4 500/8552/9 | 15 | 150 | Knowledge | English Only |
Essential Skills Wales (ESW)
| Level 2: Trees and Timber | Level | Minimum Credit Value |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 1 | 6 |
| Application of number | 1 | 6 |
On/Off the Job training
| Pathway | Minimum On the Job Training Hours | Minimum Off the Job Training Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2: Trees and Timber | 1292 | 323 |
On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
59 credits for competence and knowledge - Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trees and Timber
As the duration of the Foundation Apprenticeship is flexible the total amount of learning hours, which includes both on and off-the-job training, will also vary. This will be between 2422 hours for 18 months and 3230 hours for 24 months.
On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
6 credits/45 GLH for Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Communication
6 credits/45 GLH for Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number
Level 3: Trees and Timber
Level 3: Trees and Timber Qualifications
Participants must achieve one of the following competence and knowledge qualifications below.
| Level 3 Diploma In Work-based Trees and Timber | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| City & Guilds | C00/1245/0 600/6970/3 | 38 | 380 | Competence | English Only |
| Level 3 Award in Business Management for the Environment and Land-based Sector | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| City & Guilds | C00/0201/9 500/9232/7 | 10 | 100 | Knowledge | English Only |
| Levels 3 Award in Principles of Developing Environmental and Land-Based Projects | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| Lantra Awards | C00/0201/3 | 10 | 100 | Knowledge | English Only |
Essential Skills Wales (ESW)
| Level 3: Trees and Timber | Level | Minimum Credit Value |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2 | 6 |
| Application of number | 2 | 6 |
On/Off the Job training
| Pathway | Minimum On the Job Training Hours | Minimum Off the Job Training Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3: Trees and Timber | 1292 | 323 |
On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
60 credits for competence and knowledge - Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Trees and Timber
As the duration of the Apprenticeship is flexible the total amount of learning hours, which includes both on and off-the-job training, will also vary. This will be between 2422 hours for 18 months and 3230 hours for 24 months.
On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
6 credits/45 GLH for Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
6 credits/45 GLH for Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number
Other additional requirements
Level 2: Trees and Timber
For the Foundation Apprenticeship the Trees and Timber industry has requested the completion of three of the following Additional Employment Requirements, one Mandatory and two Optional.
These additional employment requirements will enhance the Apprenticeship and facilitate employment within the industry. Additional Employment Requirements are not required for certification and may not be funded.
Mandatory:
- Forestry First Aid (4 days)
Two other accredited, legislative or nationally recognised occupational tests relevant to the industry (suggested list below):
- Manual Handling
- Brushwood chipper
- Safe Use of Pesticides - Chainsaw and related operations
- Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
Recommended but not mandatory:
- Health & Wellbeing
- Pastoral Care
- Mental Health First Aid (Awareness/Introduction of Mental Health)
Level 3: Trees and Timber
For the Apprenticeship the Environmental Conservation industry has requested the completion of three of the following Additional Employment Requirements, one Mandatory and two Optional.
These additional employment requirements will enhance the Apprenticeship and facilitate employment within the industry. Additional Employment Requirements are not required for certification and may not be funded.
Mandatory:
- Forestry First Aid (4 days)
Two other accredited, legislative or nationally recognised occupational tests relevant to the industry (suggested list below):
- Driving with a trailer (DVLA B and E driving tests)
- Excavator training
- Brushwood chipper
- Chainsaw and related operations
- Abrasive Wheel Machines
- Manual Handling
- Safe Use of Pesticides
- All Terrain Vehicle Handling
- Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Certificate
- Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
Recommended but not mandatory:
- Health & Wellbeing
- Pastoral Care
- Mental Health First Aid (Awareness/Introduction of Mental Health)
- COSHH
- Supervisors course
Job roles
The types of jobs available include:
Level 2: Trees and Timber
Forest Worker
Tree Feller
Base Level Arborist (Ground worker)
Coppice and (Greenwood) Craft Worker
Level 3: Trees and Timber
Assistant Head Forester
Contractor (Harvesting and/or Establishment)
Social Forester
Woodland Supervisor
Coppice and (Greenwood) Craft Supervisor
Assistant Arboricultural Officer
Progression
Level 2: Trees and Timber
Progression opportunities onto the Trees and Timber Foundation Apprenticeship exist for adult learners who have experience within the trees and timber industry or who are looking for a career change.
Apprentices successfully completing the Foundation Apprenticeship have opportunities to progress within the industry by continuing onto the Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber or other Further Education courses such as:
- Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
- Level 3 Certificate in Environmental Sustainability.
Typical jobs apprentices will be able to progress onto on completion of the Foundation Apprenticeship will depend on the qualifications and experience gained, but could include:
Forest Worker, Base Level Arborist (Ground worker), Coppice and (Greenwood) Craft Worker, Tree Feller, Forest Machine Operator, Forest Operative, Arborist
Level 3: Trees and Timber
From the Foundation Apprenticeship there is direct progression onto Level 3, or learners may progress straight onto the Apprenticeship from another programme.
Progression opportunities onto the Trees and Timber Apprenticeship also exist for adult learners who have experience within the trees and timber industry or who are looking for a career change.
Apprentices successfully completing the Apprenticeship have opportunities to progress within the industry by progressing to other Higher Education courses such as a HNC/D. . Examples of courses available across the UK include:
- Forest Sciences
- Conservation and Forest Ecosystems
- Forestry and Woodland Management
- Forestry and Woodland Conservation
- Ecological Science (Forestry)
- Sustainable Forest Management
- Arboriculture and Urban Forestry
- Lowland Woodland Management
- Level 4 Technician Certificate in Arboriculture.
Apprentices looking to progress in their employment from the Apprenticeship may be able to work towards managerial positions such as arboricultural officer, head forester or forestry consultant.
Equality and diversity
It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.
The Protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.
Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.
The trees and timber industry employees are mainly males (93%), which is significantly higher than the sector average of 68% (UK) male employees and Wales' average at 71%. Whilst the industry doesn’t preclude females from working in the sector, it is suggested that the imbalance is due to an out-dated perception of trees and timber employment as traditionally a male dominated industry despite many roles in trees and timber being carried out by females. It is interesting to note that Further Education enrolments onto Trees and Timber related learning programmes are also mainly male at an average of 92% compared with work-based learning enrolments 100%.
There are wide range of hands-on roles for people of all ages and abilities together with an increasing need for skilled managerial, high-tech and specialist people. There are no actual barriers to recruitment into the industry.
There may be some physical restrictions in parts of the trees and timber industry especially if climbing trees and working with heavy equipment and machines. This should not rule anyone out, as there may be opportunities elsewhere in the industry.
Resolutions and further work:
The units within the Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber have been written in collaboration with partner awarding organisations to ensure that they are free from bias, accessible to all apprentices and are applicable to a wide range of roles and businesses within trees and timber. Because of the diverse nature of the trees and timber sector, the Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber has been developed from these units to allow maximum flexibility and choice within the rules of combination.
Lantra will work with its Trees and Timber Industry Group to promote the need for skilled managerial, high-tech and specialist people. This will also take into account the need to increase female and ethnic participation in the industry. Activities will include:
- Increasing the awareness of the Trees and Timber Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeship with specific promotions, in particular focusing on under-represented groups such as females Increasing marketing and communications highlighting the opportunities to a wide range of careers within and related to the sector.
- Using Lantra’s careers web pages to inform careers advisors and apprentices of the opportunities available in the industry.
Employment responsibilities and rights
Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory. But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.
Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Training Provider / Employer to ensure that the requirements of this Pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government Apprenticeships Guidance.
Further information may be obtained from: Welsh Government