Huge growth in the forest industry is leading to great employment opportunities according to Barony College, Dumfries.
It said that in 1999 there were around 29,500 full time jobs in the UK forestry industry – but this has now risen to around 40,000, 36% of which are in Scotland.
The growth is leading to shortages in areas such as trained machine operators, which involves the mechanical harvesting and processing of trees from the forest.
And with more than £60m being invested in forestry industry technology and improvements in working techniques, opportunities have arisen for women in what used to be a male preserve.
Places are still available on the February 2005 harvesting and arboriculture courses. For information telephone 01387 860251.
