GovWire

About the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund

The newly expanded Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund is now open for applications. Funding covers training costs for short, practical forestry and arboriculture courses. The fund is designed for people seeking to build skills or those considering a change of career into these sectors. The Fund is an extension of the Forestry Training Fund which opened at the start of 2023 to unprecedented demand.

We are offering to cover 100% of the costs for eligible training courses, meaning these are free for applicants. Funding will be paid directly to the training provider. Applicants should note that expenses, such as travel are not covered. Funding will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund is part of the Nature for Climate Fund, part of which will kick-start a step-change in tree planting in England. This will help us achieve our commitment of increasing and protecting our biodiversity by providing habitat connectivity, as well as capturing carbon as part of the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050.

What types of courses qualify for funding?

Forestry short courses available include teaching specific skills like coppicing and chainsaw maintenance, and broader learning on managing your woodland; planning and planting a new woodland; marketing and selling timber; fencing and hedge laying.

Arboriculture short courses available include teaching specific skills like aerial tree pruning, branch removal and crown reduction, as well as assisted felling and tree surveying.

You may request courses that are not on the suggested list of courses by providing a business case and we will assess suitability of the course and provider.

There is no limit to the number of courses an applicant can apply for - as long as it can be demonstrated that individual courses are developing a persons career.

How to apply

The fund is open for new applications. Simply visit Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund, fill in an application form giving details of the course you would like to undertake and with which training provider, and if successful, course fees will be covered and paid directly to the training provider. Details of eligible courses and training providers can be found on the portal.

Find out if you are eligible

We welcome applications from:

• people who would like to take a step towards a career in forestry or arboriculture
• people currently working in other land-based sectors (such as agriculture) who would like to broaden their skill base
• people wanting to switch careers and need to develop skills to get them started
• people currently working in forestry and arboriculture who would like to develop their skills

Funding is available to those applicants who work and operate in England. Forestry Commission employees are not eligible to apply, please contact your manager to discuss development opportunities.

When is the deadline to apply for funding?

We are accepting applications from now until March 2025 or until all funding has been allocated. Funding will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

If you have any questions about the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund please email enquiries@forestryandarbtrainingfund.co.uk.

Training Providers

To get involved, Training Providers must apply to join the register which is managed by East Midlands Business on behalf of the Forestry Commission. Email enquiries@forestryandarbtrainingfund.co.uk or visit the portal for more information.