British Army to Forestry Industry – Capt Si Smith's Story.
Simon joined FFF in 2022. And what a success his registration has been!
Not only has Simon gained 6 essential forestry qualifications, he has also helped us to solidify our decision to include Military Leavers in our eligibility criteria for our Skills Development Funding Scheme for 2023.
Here is his story:
Close to reaching 22 years’ service with the British Army, I was sat in a conifer woodblock on Sennybridge Training Area (Mynydd Epynt), contemplating the next chapter of my life, when I looked across the valley to see forestry machinery harvesting a woodblock. After an hour of watching them, whilst noting that there were conifer wood blocks in every direction, I knew that this was an industry that I wanted to explore further. By a stroke of luck, later that week I was watching Countryfile and saw the feature on the military charity High Ground who specialise in getting military personnel into the outdoor sector.
Within a couple of months, I had attended their virtual rural week with a desire to learn more about the forestry industry and managed to leave it with the contact details of a CONFOR representative, a Forestry Commission representative, and a private company representative. I approached all three with my CV and asked for open and honest advice on breaking into the sector. Their replies all had a similarity, you have a good CV with lots of leadership and management experience, but no forestry specific experience or qualifications. You would need to gain these to have a realistic chance of employment.
‘I knew that this was an industry that I wanted to explore further.’
Armed with this feedback I started to identify forestry companies in Wales and approached them to find out what qualifications were required and where best to do them. I got chatting to Simon Wallis of Euroforest, James Hallsworth of Tilhill and Andrew Sowerby of Pryor and Rickett Silviculture who all sign posted me to Focus on Forestry First (FFF) as an avenue to gain subsidised qualifications.
I learned that the Royal Forestry Society do a level 2 Certificate in Forestry that comprises of six theory modules (woodland and forest ecology, woody plant physiology, supply and planting of woody plants, interaction of soil and woody plants, tree inspections and law, and principles of silviculture and habitat management) and eight practical modules (chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting, small tree-felling, medium tree-felling, pesticide application, ATV, woodchipper and managing uprooted and windblown trees). Most of the practical qualifications were on the list of subsidised qualifications that the FFF scheme offered.
However, I found out that you needed to be either an employee of a forestry company, a woodland owner or self-employed to be eligible. I explained my predicament and the barriers I was facing and fair play to FFF, they made a special pathway for me as a service leaver looking to enter the industry. I received funding for most of the above courses as well as a First Aid at Work Forestry + qualification.
‘I explained my predicament and the barriers I was facing and fair play to FFF, they made a special pathway for me as a service leaver looking to enter the industry’.
This funding allowed me to complete numerous courses and meet people from all over the industry over the last 12 months. I have developed a large network and learned not only what is taught on the course, but also what they do in their varied roles which is invaluable going forward. Most importantly I have left every course with the same feeling, this industry is where I belong.
‘I have left every course with the same feeling, this industry is where I belong’.
My CV is now looking a lot better, and I have recently been successful in gaining employment with Tilhill and have also begun an MSc in Forestry at Bangor University. Without FFF’s support I believe that it would have taken me a lot longer to get to this stage. To learn that they are now opening the scheme up officially to service leavers fills me with great pride and I would fully recommend anyone returning to Wales post military life to contact both High Ground and FFF to explore the options available.
‘My CV is now looking a lot better, and I have recently been successful in gaining employment with Tilhill and have also begun an MSc in Forestry at Bangor University. ‘
Thanks Simon! And good luck with your employment and MSc! - FFF.
