The Forestry Training Service exists to address the critical skills shortages across the UK’s forestry and trees sector. We operate as the national training hub for the industry, connecting training demand with high-quality provision, coordinating professional standards, and actively supporting both new entrants and existing workers.
The Forestry Training Service UK (FTS) was established by Confor: Confederation of Forest Industries (UK) with the financial support of key companies in the industry and public forestry bodies to improve workforce development across UK forestry.
We are an independent, not-for-profit company. Driven by our Management Board and supported by our Industry Skills Board, we act as a unified, national force dedicated to identifying and resolving strategic technical training issues.
The UK forestry sector is experiencing an era of rapid expansion. Driven by woodland creation, harvesting, restocking targets, and climate-driven resilience work, independent forecasts predict that our sector will require up to a 70% workforce growth by 2030 to meet expanding capacity.
However, our industry faces a significant skills crisis:
Declining Core Training: Access to basic training for key roles, such as machine operators and forest works supervisors, has diminished, creating recruitment barriers and high staff turnover.
The Competence Gap : Certification confirms essential standards, but employers often value additional practical experience, mentoring and professional development; FTSUK training helps bridge this gap by developing workplace-ready skills through structured learning and supported practice.
Accessing Training: Training opportunities are available across the sector, but their visibility and accessibility can be limited. FTSUK helps connect employers and learners with clear, coordinated pathways to relevant training and development opportunities.
We develop and facilitate technical, advanced, specialised and industry relevant training where market failures exist, specifically targeting forest machine operation, chainsaw skills, environmental awareness, forest works management, and leadership.
We focus on applied skills, structured mentoring and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) pathways so workers can accumulate, log, and prove their competence.
We collaborate with training providers through a structured quality-assurance framework. This ensures that when providers deliver FTSUK approved courses, they meet the highest standards of modern, productive forestry.
We build strong partnerships to help new entrants, including career changers, young apprentices and military service leavers find accessible pathways, gain qualifications, and take their first secure steps into a rewarding forestry career.
Browse FTSUK’s range of industry-led training courses. Filter by category, location and date to find training that matches your needs.
If you are unable to find training there is an opportunity to report the forestry training gap. FTSUK will collate this information to inform future development.
Once you’ve found the right training, simply book to add to your cart. We’ll review your application and make sure the training is the right fit for your experience, development needs and eligibility requirements.
Attend training delivered by experienced forestry professionals and approved providers, supported by subject specialists where appropriate. Whether in the classroom, workshop or forest, courses are designed to develop practical knowledge, competence and confidence that can be applied in the workplace.
Keep track of completed training, skills gained and professional development activities. Recording your learning helps demonstrate competence, support career progression and identify future development opportunities.
By working together with employers, trainers, and public bodies, we are establishing a “gold standard” that delivers:
