Apprentice Forest Craftsperson

Role overview

This apprenticeship offers hands-on experience working with forest craftspeople and beat teams while you follow a structured training plan. The position focuses on practical work linked to establishing, managing, and harvesting forests within the UK timber sector, with training provided to support achievement of the Level 3 Forest Craftsperson Apprenticeship.

What you will do

• Carry out estate operations such as vegetation control, timber measurement, fencing, planting, habitat improvement, and protection of historic features.
• Assist with timber harvesting work.
• Help deliver recreation-related tasks, including upkeep of facilities, tree safety inspections, and any necessary remedial work.
• Work closely with a small team and respond promptly to urgent tasks or changing priorities set by supervisors and managers.
• Perform manual duties outdoors in all weather conditions within a forestry setting.
• Take on varied work across different disciplines and maintain an enthusiastic, fast-working approach.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties requested by your line manager.

Experience and skills needed

You should be comfortable working outside and have an interest in countryside management, forestry, conservation, or a similar area. Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills are important, along with a genuine willingness to learn practical skills through training, hands-on practice, and guidance from colleagues.

It is desirable to have Level 2 English and Maths.

You must also be a competent IT user with practical experience using the MS Office suite.

Pay and benefits

The salary is £24,525, and the employer contributes £7,104 toward membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. The pension employer contribution rate is 28.97%.

• Role-specific learning and development support
• Flexible working arrangements
• An inclusive workplace culture
• Civil Service pension support

Application and assessment

Applicants will need to provide a 200-word statement covering relevant experience and career history, plus a personal statement of up to 500 words. These will be reviewed at the sift stage. The interview process will assess experience, a technical skill, and strengths-based questions. The behaviours assessed at interview are Working Together, Developing Self and Others, and Delivering at Pace.

If you need reasonable adjustments, contact the recruitment team by email.

Feedback is only given to candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

Checks and clearance

Successful candidates will be required to pass a criminal record check, government baseline personnel security standard checks, and a medical assessment.

Nationality and eligibility

This role is open to UK nationals, Republic of Ireland nationals, Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK, eligible EU/Swiss/Norwegian/Icelandic/Liechtenstein nationals and their family members with settled or pre-settled status or a valid EUSS application, certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020, and Turkish nationals and certain family members with the relevant right to work in the Civil Service.

Equal opportunity and other information

The post is not regulated by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service supports diversity and equal opportunities, including a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and a Redeployment Interview Scheme for civil servants at risk of redundancy who meet the minimum requirements.

The organisation also participates in initiatives supporting veterans and welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.

Applicants may wish to save a copy of the advert, as it will no longer be available after closing.

Contact

Recruitment email: fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk

Further information

Recruitment follows fair and open competition and merit-based appointment principles. If you believe your application was not handled in line with these principles, contact englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk first. If the response does not resolve the issue, you may escalate it to the Civil Service Commission.