Level 6 Woodland Officer Apprentice
United Utilities
Keswick (CA12 4TQ)
Closes in 16 days (Monday 23 February 2026)
Posted on 30 January 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you ready to live your future? Do you want to be part of building a greener, healthier, and stronger North West? Come and join us! We’ll provide you with industry-leading skills and the experience you need to succeed in your chosen field.
- Wage
-
£21,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Reward and benefits – There are lots of perks, including a starting salary of £21,000, which will increase each year based on performance
- Training course
- Professional forester (integrated degree) (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday. Shifts TBC.
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Wednesday 2 September 2026
- Duration
-
4 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
As a Level 6 Woodland Officer Apprentice, you’ll learn how to:
- Effectively manage and improve the company's trees and woodland throughout the catchment, in order to protect water quality, provide amenity, and enhance reputation.
- Develop and implement forest management and design plans in line with FSC guidelines for all trees and woodlands within the catchment.
- Manage the company’s woodlands to ensure we maintain the company’s FSC accreditation including preparing for and managing the audit process
- Represent UU at meetings with stakeholders including local authorities, utility companies, contractors, partners etc. ensuring that the Company's interests are protected and the Company's reputation enhanced
- Assess land to identify opportunities to create new woodland
Apply for grants to deliver new woodland creation and existing woodland management
Where you'll work
3 The Green
Thirlmere
Keswick
CA12 4TQ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA
Training course
Professional forester (integrated degree) (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Navigate to work sites using tools (e.g. maps, compasses, location apps, GPS)
- Create maps to represent forestry / woodland sites using both paper and digital formats.
- Identify, classify and prioritise different sources of silvicultural information and data
- Use digital technology to conduct desk-based surveys.
- Apply accurate mensuration and survey techniques.
- Create Woodland Management / Creation Design Plan
- Produce and manage silvicultural operational assessments / schemes of work / operational and harvesting plans.
- Develop complex silviculture modelling scenarios including carbon balance, land use, landowner objectives, timber and/or other income.
- Communicate with others using different methods, for example digital, written, verbal, presentational (maps & sketches).
- Establish and manage internal and external relationships, for example contractors, media, stakeholders.
- Select and apply online silvicultural tool or application for task, for example MyForest, Felling Licence Online, Ecological Site Classification Tool, ForestGales
- Select and apply silvicultural systems to achieve management objectives.
- Manage risks to the environment including pollution, biosecurity, habitat degradation.
- Identify and manage risks to self, employees, public and others using dynamic site and operational risk assessment according to FISA Guidance.
- Collate, analyse and interpret silvicultural data and make recommendations.
- Develop and maintain information networks.
- Create and manage financial models and budgets.
- Prepare and manage financial and contractual documents (e.g. tenders, sales contracts, grant agreements).
- Manage, maintain and record own performance, professional development and currency of silvicultural knowledge.
- Navigate to work sites using tools (e.g. maps, compasses, location apps, GPS)
- Create maps to represent forestry / woodland sites using both paper and digital formats.
- Identify, classify and prioritise different sources of silvicultural information and data
- Use digital technology to conduct desk-based surveys.
- Apply accurate mensuration and survey techniques.
- Create Woodland Management / Creation Design Plan
- Produce and manage silvicultural operational assessments / schemes of work / operational and harvesting plans.
- Develop complex silviculture modelling scenarios including carbon balance, land use, landowner objectives, timber and/or other income.
- Communicate with others using different methods, for example digital, written, verbal, presentational (maps & sketches).
- Establish and manage internal and external relationships, for example contractors, media, stakeholders.
- Select and apply online silvicultural tool or application for task, for example MyForest, Felling Licence Online, Ecological Site Classification Tool, ForestGales
- Select and apply silvicultural systems to achieve management objectives.
- Manage risks to the environment including pollution, biosecurity, habitat degradation.
- Identify and manage risks to self, employees, public and others using dynamic site and operational risk assessment according to FISA Guidance.
- Collate, analyse and interpret silvicultural data and make recommendations.
- Develop and maintain information networks.
- Create and manage financial models and budgets.
- Prepare and manage financial and contractual documents (e.g. tenders, sales contracts, grant agreements).
- Manage, maintain and record own performance, professional development and currency of silvicultural knowledge.
Training schedule
Your training will be at your workplace and block release at the university.
More training information
As part of your induction, you will attend a residential trip in the Lake District. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in a beautiful setting with your fellow apprentices. Accommodation and boarding will be provided.
During your apprenticeship, you may need to travel to your place of study. If you’re not local to your place of study, accommodation will be provided by United Utilities during this period (excluding weekends). Please consider travel requirements and staying away from home if applicable.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- 5 GCSE's minimum or equivalent (grade A-C or 9-4)
- Maths, English and a Science or Technology subject (grade A-C or 9-4)
A Level in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
Other requirements
You will need a full UK driving licence at time of application.
About this employer
United Utilities is responsible for water and wastewater services in the North West of England. From 2025-2030 we will undertake the largest investment in water and wastewater services in the North West in 100 years - that's more than £13 billion worth of projects. Now, more than ever, we need inspiring future talent to help make the North West stronger, greener, and healthier.
https://www.unitedutilities.com/corporate/careers/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 26 days of leave (excluding bank holidays), a £500 contribution towards learning to drive, and many more benefits.
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- Every apprentice is guaranteed a permanent position at the end of their scheme (as long as you meet all necessary standards and behaviour criteria throughout the programme)
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000011732.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Monday 23 February 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.