Apprentice Forest Craftsperson

Forestry England; Grizedale; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension

25 days holiday (pro‑rated for part‑t‑

STaRis employee benefits scheme

Free parking at Forestry England sites

Free entry to National Arboreta

Career development and sponsored body/

Job summary

Forestry England in the North region is inviting applications for an Apprentice Forest Craftsperson. The role offers 37 hours per week on a fixed-term appointment through to 30 September 2028, with a salary of £24,492 per year.

You will train alongside forest craftspeople and beat teams, gaining hands‑on experience in creating, maintaining and harvesting forests within the UK timber industry. The programme provides a structured training plan leading to the Level 3 Forest Craftsperson

Qualifications

• Willing to learn and follow a structured training programme.
• Interest in forest craft and timber industry.
• Ability to work with forest teams and locations across sites.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside forest craftspeople and beat teams to gain practical experience.
• Contribute to operations creating, maintaining and harvesting forests as part of the UK timber industry.
• Train to obtain the Level 3 Forest Craftsperson Apprenticeship and related awards.

Job description

Job Reference forestryengland/TP/30173/780

Number of Positions:

3

Contract Type:

Fixed Term Appointment

Working Hours:

37

Location:

Closing Date:

15/09/2026

Job Category:

Land Management

Region:

North

Business Unit:

North

Job Introduction

We are Forestry England.

We live and breathe forests.

Job title – Apprentice Forest Craftsperson

Salary- £24,492 per annum

Contract type – Fixed term appointment until 30/09/2028, with the possibility of extension or permanency.

Vacancy closes - 15th September, 23:58

Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and want to make a positive difference for you and the environment.

Together, we’re using our scale and expertise to grow the nation’s forests for everyone. We’re already adapting our landscapes for tomorrow, and getting stuff done today, like creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We're providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.

What you’ll do…

You will work alongside forest craftspeople and beat teams to gain practical experience whilst following a structured training programme. You will contribute to practical operations creating, maintaining, and harvesting forests as part of the UK timber industry. You will be trained to obtain the necessary and training and awards to achieve the Level 3 Forest Craftsperson Apprenticeship.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work...

There are 3 positions available, 2 of which are based in Grizdale Forest, Hawkshead, Cumbria, LA22 0QJ and the other in Peil Wyke, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth,CA13 9YG.

1 of the Grizedale posts will be in the recreation team gaining experience in maintaining recreation facilities along side the apprenticeship.

Please specify on the application which site you would like to be considered for.

Alongside your salary, Forestry England contributes an average of 28.97% towards your pension. You will become a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

• 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year’s service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
• STaRis our employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other things such as hotel stays clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.
• free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
• a commitment to lifelong learning through career development. Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.

Working for the Civil Service…

Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). This means candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria during the application process will be guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the role. This role is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative.

Within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to provide conversation in accurate spoken English.

Our recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in in line with/according to these principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: [e-mail] .