Self Funded Environmental Skills Programme

Practical training for your next career

Our self funded programme is designed for people who want to move into conservation, forestry, land management or the wider environmental sector and are ready to invest in developing the practical skills employers are looking for.

Training takes place in real working environments and combines recognised qualifications with hands on experience across a broad range of land based activities.

Whether you are considering a complete career change, developing existing skills or looking to strengthen your CV with practical qualifications, the programme gives you a strong foundation from which to move into the sector.

Our programmes have achieved 92% positive progression into employment, self employment, education, further training or other meaningful opportunities.

What you will experience

• Wildlife management, learning how habitats, deer populations and wider wildlife are managed within large working landscapes.
• Woodland habitat management, developing practical knowledge of woodland condition, tree identification, common species and how habitats are managed to support biodiversity and conservation objectives.
• Risk assessment, learning how to identify hazards, assess risk and work safely within practical land management and conservation environments.
• Hand tools and spoon carving, developing safe and confident use of hand tools through practical tasks such as spoon carving, providing a strong foundation before moving onto more powerful equipment.
• Chainsaw training, developing safe operating, maintenance and cross cutting skills while working towards recognised industry qualifications.
• Brushcutter training, gaining practical experience with equipment widely used across forestry, estates, conservation and grounds management.
• ATV and UTV training, learning to operate specialist vehicles safely across different terrain and working environments.
• Forestry first aid, developing valuable emergency response skills specifically relevant to outdoor and land based work.
• Drone work, gaining exposure to the growing use of aerial technology in surveying, conservation, land management and environmental monitoring.
• Cornish hedging, developing a useful traditional skill that continues to have practical value across estates and the rural sector.
• Practical conservation, contributing to real projects and gaining experience that you can talk about confidently with future employers.
• Environmental monitoring and technology, understanding how modern conservation increasingly combines traditional field skills with new technology.
• Real world land management, learning within working landscapes rather than purely through classroom based training.
• Industry insight, developing a clearer understanding of the different roles, employers and opportunities available across the sector.
• Employability support, helping you translate your training and experience into your next step towards employment or self employment.

Interested in joining us?

Self funded places are available for individuals who want to develop practical environmental and land management skills and invest in their next career.

Programme content, availability and costs can vary depending on the training and qualifications included.

Please contact the Secure Forests team to discuss upcoming dates, programme options and costs.