The Institute of Chartered Foresters and Forestry Commission are delighted to announce the launch of the Sustainable Careers in Forestry: Virtual Work Experience (VWEX) programme.
This new virtual forestry work experience programme is now available on the immersive online careers platform, Springpod. Free for students to sign up, Springpod helps young people explore career opportunities through both virtual work experience and university taster courses.
The programme invites young people to explore the diverse range of green opportunities available in a sector that is key to creating a sustainable and resilient future. From tree planting and forest management to conservation and utilisation, the VWEX programme includes practical skills and insights into the forestry sector, as well as information on career pathways. Designed for students aged 13-23, the launch of this free programme aims to address the skills shortage in the forestry sector, highlighting career prospects, and attracting the next generation of foresters.
Dr Rob Hawkins, the Institute’s Senior Education & Outreach Officer, led on the development of this programme. Speaking on its launch, Rob said:
“Launching a virtual work experience programme is a really exciting opportunity to showcase the breadth of careers that are available in forestry. Being able to introduce our sector to potentially hundreds of secondary school students that may not even know that a career with trees is a possibility has the potential to be revolutionary for future recruitment to colleges, universities and, of course, employers.”
Louise Simpson, the Institute’s Executive Director, said:
“We are delighted to launch this new virtual forestry work experience programme on Springpod with the Forestry Commission. Careers in forestry are exciting and diverse, and we need more young people entering this sector to help tackle the skills shortage, ensuring the future forestry workforce can deliver for climate, nature, people, and the economy. Our membership surveys repeatedly tell us that our members strongly believe engaging with schools is an important way to encourage more people to consider pursing a career in forestry, so I urge all members to share this new programme to encourage as many students as possible to sign up and get a taste of a career in this rewarding sector.”
The programme has been welcomed by organisations across the sector, including the Woodland Trust who have contributed additional funding to support further promotions.
To find out more about the programme, visit this page.