GovWire

About the Forestry Training Fund

A new Forestry Training Fund is available now to cover training costs for short, practical forestry courses. Funding is available for people considering a change of career or seeking to build and diversify their skills in forestry and who want to undertake a forestry-related training course.

We are offering 100% funding for eligible courses and expect grants to be in the range of 150-3,000. Funding will be paid directly to the training provider.

Over 700,000 has been allocated by Defra and Forestry Commission, via the governments Nature for Climate Fund, to support applicants in their journey either starting or developing a career in forestry. The Forestry 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?

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.

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

There is no limit - applications for funding to cover training courses can be made multiple times as long as it can be demonstrated that individual courses are developing a persons career.

How to apply

Simply visit Forestry Training Fund portal, 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 at Forestry Training Fund portal.

Find out if you are eligible

We welcome applications from:

• people who would like to take a step towards a career in forestry
• 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 who would like to develop their skills

Funding is available to those applicants who work and operate in England.

When is the deadline to apply for funding?

We are accepting applications now until March 2025 or until funding is exhausted. If you have any questions about the Forestry Training Fund please email: enquiries@ftfund.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.