MARCH 2009 futures
5futures FOCUS
FORESTERS
Connexions Cumbria work with
teen parents to help them make the
most of the opportunities available
to them in their local area. Being
a teen parent can sometimes be
difficult, finding the time, energy,
motivation to progress into learning
opportunities especially with the
additional responsibilities of being
a parent can be a real challenge.
Connexions Cumbria has developed
a range of services and opportunities
for young parents which have
proved successful in enabling
young women in particular to take
the first steps back into Education,
Employment and Training; gaining
skills, qualifications and confidence
along the way.
There are currently over 20 young
parents participating in courses
across West Cumbria achieving
some fantastic successes
and building a bright future for
themselves and their children.
Connexions Personal Advisers,
Linda Clark and Deana Benzie,
based in the Connexions Centres
in Whitehaven and Workington,
work closely with other agencies
and partners in the Virtual Teenage
Pregnancy Team to contact
young parents, usually in early
pregnancy, offering them support
and guidance on a wide range of
topics. Personal Advisers work with
parents encouraging an helping
them to engage in work or training
opportunities once their baby is born.
Connexions Cumbria has developed
a "Teen Mums Offer", which is
a menu of suitable and flexible
opportunities which a young mums
can enter at any level and offers
progression onto further learning.
A number of the teen mums have
enrolled on a bespoke course at
the Lakes College. The programme
includes taster sessions with
progression into further courses
either specifically for teen mums or
as part of mainstream activity. For
participants of this course there
is the offer of the Mobile Creche
which Connexions Cumbria are able
to arrange so that young parents
are happy their children are being
cared for whilst they take part in the
activities and learning opportunities.
A weekly community based Young
Mums Group is also running and
Personal Advisers, Linda and Deana,
working alongside the Teenage
Pregnancy Midwife in Whitehaven,
support groups of young mums who
meet in community settings.
For young mums who are unable
to engage in our timetabled and
structured opportunities we can offer
a distance learning programme in
which young women are mentored
through an accredited programme
looking at employability skills.
For all of the programmes on offer,
incentives are available which
encourage enrolment and ongoing
participation. These incentives are
largely in the form of activities which
the participants themselves are often
involved in planning and organising,
further enhancing their life skills and
confidence.
This support is very well received
and can provide a safe and positive
environment for mums to meet other
young people in the same situations
and develop their confidence and
skills.
Connexions Cumbria is here to give you
all the info and advice you need to help
you achieve what you want out of life.
Whether it's top exam grades, a brilliant
career, or just some help dealing with
life's pressures, we'll listen to the stuff
that's important to you.
We give information, advice and
guidance for all 13 to 19 year olds.
Call our freephone number
0800 435709 or visit our website
www.connexionscumbria.co.uk
Supporting teen mums across West Cumbria
For further information about Connexions work with Teen Parents and how to enrol
on any of the courses mentioned here, please contact
Whitehaven or Workington Connexions Centres on 0800 435 709
www.connexionscumbria.co.uk
Young mum's group inWhitehaven receiving a donation from a local community
group to purchase computer software. In the picture are Personal Advisers
Linda Clark, Helen Dixon and Community Midwife Julie McQuire
F
ORESTERS (sometimes called
woodland managers) maintain and
manage the balance between
various issues associated with
woodland areas, such as
commercial interests, biodiversity,
landscape and public access.
Tasks include advising clients on good
practice and providing a contract service
to woodland owners; advising woodland
owners on planting design and species
choice, budgeting, public access,
ecological surveys, and forest
certification; organising the growing,
harvesting, marketing and sale of timber;
supervising forest workers and
contractors in the field; liaising with
customers, landowners, timber
merchants, the public and local
authorities and working on many projects
with other professionals, such as
landscape architects, archaeologists,
biologists, geologists, chartered surveyors
and engineers, and charitable bodies.
Other tasks include attending meetings
of professional bodies, keeping up to date
with legal changes and other
developments, working to
globally-recognised forest certification,
planning and controlling budgets and
promoting the expansion of new woodland
coverage and, where possible, the
restoration of ancient woodland in the
UK.
Foresters are also involved in forest
protection, a wide-ranging part of the role
considering the Government's desire to
promote sustainable forest management.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS
STARTING salaries for graduates range
from �12,000 to �20,000. Salaries at senior
level or with experience range from
�30,000 to �50,000.
Salaries depend on responsibilities,
experience and merit. The Forestry
Commission has national pay scales,
including performance-related pay.
Salaries and other benefits in the
private sector vary much more widely
than in the public sector. The lowest pay
is generally on private estates, but there
can be other benefits in these posts, such
as accommodation and a car.
There is a mixture of office-based and
outdoor work.
Self-employed or freelance work is
becoming more popular. There are
especially good opportunities for
consultancy work in urban areas.
There are currently more men than
women employed in forestry, although
more women are entering the industry.
The impression that the job is physically
tough may deter some people but, despite
the fact that your hands will get dirty, the
work is more managerial than hands-on.
The Forestry Commission promotes
equal opportunities and there are no bars
to progression within the industry as a
whole.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
TO ENTER this area of work you will
need to have a degree in a relevant area.
In particular, the following degree
subjects may improve your chances:
forestry; land/estate/property
management; ecology; horticulture;
environmental science; geography.
A small number of forestry HNDs,
degrees and postgraduate qualifications
are offered at UK universities and
colleges, which have traditionally acted as
an entry route to the profession. However,
with the diversification of the industry
away from purely timber production, a
wider range of degrees, combined with
relevant experience, is becoming more
acceptable.
Entry without a degree or HND is
possible at lower levels but further
progression will depend on gaining
relevant experience and study towards a
qualification on a part-time basis.
A pre-entry postgraduate qualification,
either a postgraduate diploma or an MSc
in Forestry, is necessary for holders of a
non-relevant degree or HND.
In addition to relevant qualifications,
practical experience is important for
entry to the profession.
Some forestry degrees are sandwich
courses, enabling you to complete a year
in industry as part of your study. There
are several voluntary organisations
working in woodland management such
as the British Trust for Conservation
Volunteers (BTCV), The Woodland Trust
and Trees for Life and gaining
volunteering opportunities with these
organisations is valuable.
A driving licence and physical fitness
are essential. Candidates will also need to
show evidence of teamwork; organisation;
communication; leadership; and
numeracy.
There is strong competition for jobs, so
gaining as much varied work experience
as possible is crucial and will enhance
applications.
TRAINING
TECHNICAL and management training
exists in the Forestry Commission and all
large companies within the industry. A
large amount of practical training is
delivered on the job.
Many choose to study for the Institute
of Chartered Foresters (ICF) qualification.
Chartered status can be gained through
examination after at least two years of
approved professional practice in forestry
or arboriculture.
The second part of the exam involves a
professional interview as well as an
assessment of professional competence,
and presentation of a professional
practice portfolio.
The ICF also encourages and promotes
continuing professional development
(CPD) amongst its members. Suitable CPD
activities include participating in
conferences, meetings, discussion groups
and short courses, as well as publishing
technical work and delivering lectures.
The Forestry Commission encourages
staff to engage in formal training courses
to advance professional development.
IN THE FIELD: Forestry students at the
University of Cumbria

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