Over the last few years, a number of reports have highlighted the skills and labour concerns of those in the arboricultural sector nationwide.
Whilst these reports have been useful in examining the issues facing the industry as a whole, they highlighted a gap in data specifically around the unique challenges specific to those working in tree and woodland management and maintenance across Greater London.
This gap in evidence and insight has made it more challenging for sector organisations to develop, fund, and deliver tangible initiatives to fill skill gaps and promote tree and woodland skills to a new generation.
As a result, the London Tree Officers Association and Parks for London, working as part of the London Urban Forest Partnership secured funding from the Trees Call to Action Fund to deliver a workforce skills survey to seek the views of arboriculture and urban forestry professionals working in Greater London.
The findings, which were gathered in early 2023 and published in a new report, reveal the types of skills that employees in the arboriculture sector feel are important now and in the future, the confidence in being able to deliver an increasing workload, and challenges specific to recruitment. Respondents also gave their views on initiatives that they thought would help overcome the challenges and barriers faced by the industry in Greater London.
They show that skills and recruitment issues remain a key concern to London based organisations and individuals involved in tree and woodland management and maintenance. Both finding and attracting people with the required knowledge and skills and providing opportunities for upskilling existing staff seem to be key themes and something sector partners will need to explore and collaborate to address.
Some of the headline findings reveal:
- 70% of respondents felt they had a current skills gap within their organisation.
- 45% have been unable to find people with the required knowledge and skills.
- 43% struggled to recruit people with the skills needed as a result of headcount and budget freezes.
- 58% had experienced a low volume of applicants, with 53% reporting applicants lacked sufficient knowledge.
The results informed a set of suggested actions which can be found at the end of the report. These actions aim to ensure the successful management of London’s urban forest by addressing the challenges surrounding skills, recruitment, and employee retention in the workforce.
This report has been produced by the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) and Parks for London. It has been funded by the Trees Call to Action Fund, a fund developed by DEFRA in partnership with the Forestry Commission and delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
