Confor event will give potential forestry operators taste of industry

Industry body Confor is running a series of open days to give would-be operators the chance to experience life at the heart of the sector. 

Part funded by Scottish Forestry and run alongside John Deere, the course will be split into two parts.

READ MORE: Confor's Introduction to Forestry Machinery: Plugging the industry's skills gap

The first will see potential forestry employees have a go on a forwarder simulator. This will have the same controls as the real machine and is used as a training aid by the forestry colleges.

Simulators will offer the chance to step virtually inside a cabin (Image: Confor)

There will be an experienced operator on hand to guide trainees through the controls. 

The second will see a select group move onto the real thing and try their hand inside the cabin of a forwarder on a working forestry site. 

In its inaugural year in 2022, the event gave 16 candidates a taste of forwarders and harvesters. 

Scott MacFarlane inside the cabin of John Deere 1510G during a 2022 event (Image: FJ)

Speaking to Forestry Journal at a taster in Perthshire, Scott MacFarlane, who was getting ready to leave the Army for a new career, said: “I wanted to dip my toes in and get the chance to see if forestry is somewhere I would be happy working. Leaving after 15 years, I’m trying to figure out what to do next.” 

Dates and locations 

Simulator event 1 - Monday 23rd Jan to Friday 27th Jan 2023, Scottish School of Forestry, Inverness

Simulator event 2 – Monday 6th Feb to Friday 10th Feb 2023, Nature Scot Office, Battleby, Perth

Forestry site – Monday 6th March to Friday 17th March. Exact location to be confirmed, however expected in the Perth area. 

To apply, complete the application form on Confor's website and send to Richard.hunter@confor.org.uk by 9th December 2022.

There is no guarantee that you will be allocated a place or get your preferred day.