Forestry Machine Operator (UKFPA) Skills Development Courses

Course Details:

Please note that places for these courses have now beel allocated, but applications received may still be considered for a waiting list/reserve place.

This intensive 8 week, full-time course, developed by the UK Forest Products Association and Barony College, is designed to enhance and improve the skills of existing forestry workers with experience of mechanised timber harvesting operations.

Course Description: 

The course will be delivered by experienced instructors through Barony Forestry Training, a specialist unit within Barony College which delivers short courses and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the forestry and arboriculture industries, with support from John Deere Forestry Limited and Forestry Commission Scotland.

The delivery of the course will be varied, including classroom based teaching, access to harvester and forwarder simulators, together with hands-on practical experience on a harvesting site and will cover the skills necessary to operate forwarders and harvesters.  Continuous assessment of each candidate’s ability will take place throughout the course to map progression.  FMOC assessments will be undertaken in the final week of training.

Numbers are limited to four places per course to allow for appropriate instructor/trainee ratio.

Course Content:

• Health & Safety and Environmental Legislation
• Site planning and management
• Operation of harvester
• Operation of forwarder
• Machinery maintenance and repair
• Harvester and forwarder computer systems

The course will present a varied and interesting programme which will include site visits to wood-processing facilities.

Course Dates:

Course 1:  Monday 30th April 2012 - Saturday 23rd June 2012

Course 2:  Monday 2nd July 2012 - Saturday 25th August 2012

Course 3:  Monday 3rd September 2012 - Saturday 27th October 2012

 

Course Schedule:

Classroom: Weeks 1-2 (Mon-Fri: 8.30am - 4.30pm)

Site: Weeks 3-8 (Mon-Sat: 6.45am - 6.00pm) 

The course information is available to download here

Course Outcome:

On completion of the 8 week course, candidates will have a firm foundation in mechanised timber harvesting operations and will have covered all assessment criteria to enable them to complete the NPTC Forest Machine Operator Certification (FMOC) assessment.

To Apply for the Course:

The application form for this course can be downloaded here or to request a copy by post please contact Rachel Murray, Short Course Co-ordinator at Barony College on 01387 242918 or on email shortcourses@barony.ac.uk

Entry Requirements:

Candidate Requirements:

Candidates should be:

• Aged 17 and over
• Hold a full, valid Driver’s Licence
• Have some relevant work experience of forestry, mechanised harvesting operations or related engineering.
• Should already be working in the industry or have an industry sponsor

Employer Responsibility:

Employers or candidates will be responsible for payment of tuition fees of £1,250, candidate accommodation, travel and subsistence for the duration of the course. It is expected that employed candidates will continue to receive a wage from their employer throughout the duration of the course. There will be an additional cost for the FMOC (harvester and forwarder) assessments of £500.

Additional Information:

Funding:

This course has been part funded through the Scotland Rural Development Programme Skills Development Scheme.

Key industry support for this programme is provided by John Deere Forestry Limited and Forestry Commission Scotland.