ONE of the UK's leading forestry companies has welcomed its latest batch of recruits onto a "highly-successful" graduate scheme. 

Six young people have joined Scottish Woodlands' Graduate Development Programme, taking the total to more than 50 since it was launched in 2017. 

Earlier this year, its flexible pathway into the profession led to its accreditation by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).

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The new graduates and their roles and locations within the business are:

  • Megan Curtis, assistant forest manager based in Lochgilphead, Argyll;
  • Callum Gammie, assistant forest manager based in Banchory, Aberdeenshire;
  • Amauta Halvorsen, assistant environmental forest manager based in Dingwall, Highlands;
  • David King, assistant forest manager, Lochgilphead;
  • Joshua Pressley, assistant forest manager in Fenwick, Ayrshire;
  • Beth Scott, assistant environmental forest manager in Sandpiper office, Perth.

Ian Robinson, managing director of Scottish Woodlands, said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to welcome another intake of talented graduates to help secure the future of our company.

“Scottish Woodlands’ Graduate Development Programme offers a high-quality, wide-ranging and real-world introduction to a career in forestry, which is already delivering a new generation of future leaders of the business.

“The recognition of the programme by the ICF earlier this year is further evidence that this is an industry-leading and highly-respected programme – offering the brightest young talent the best possible opportunities to build sustainable careers in the forestry industry.”

As we have told previously, the scheme has been widely praised since its launch. 

Scotland's former forestry minister Màiri McAllan said last year: "Forestry is an industry where Scotland leads the way in the UK, with around 80 per cent of all new tree planting. We can justifiably be proud of this, but we need to continue building to ensure future success.

“That’s why creative graduate programmes like this are so important – to bring more young people into Scotland’s growing forestry industry, giving them practical, hands-on experience to develop their skills as our future leaders of this green, Scottish industry.”