Great Oaks Training
Location: Preston, Lancashire, with occasional travel to practical training sites
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: Highly competitive and dependent on experience, technical qualifications, NPTC approvals and teaching experience
About the role
Great Oaks Training is looking for an exceptional arboriculture professional to join us as a Technical Trainer.
This is a practical, hands-on role delivering high-quality arboriculture, chainsaw and forestry training leading to recognised City & Guilds NPTC qualifications.
We are looking for someone who takes pride in doing things properly and wants to help raise the standard of skills, safety and professionalism across the arboriculture industry.
You may already be an experienced trainer, instructor or NPTC assessor. Alternatively, you may be an accomplished arborist, lead climber, supervisor or team leader who is ready to move into technical training.
For the right person, Great Oaks is prepared to invest in teaching qualifications, instructor development, additional technical qualifications and progression towards relevant NPTC assessor approvals and Technical Evaluations.
Existing teaching qualifications are therefore desirable, but they are not essential for an outstanding technical candidate.
What we will not compromise on is technical ability, professionalism, preparation, safety or personal standards.
Why join Great Oaks Training?
Great Oaks Training is being developed as a specialist centre for high-quality practical arboriculture training.
Our objective is not simply to help people obtain qualifications. We want candidates to leave Great Oaks safer, more capable, more confident and better prepared for the realities of professional arboriculture.
The training centre operates alongside established ARB Approved Contractor sister companies. This gives our trainers and candidates a direct connection to current commercial arboriculture, operational standards, equipment, work planning and the expectations of employers and clients.
Our training is grounded in real industry experience rather than being delivered in isolation from the workplace.
We also use digital learning resources and e-portfolio systems to support candidates before, during and after their training. These resources help candidates prepare properly, retain technical information and record their continued development.
This role offers an experienced arborist the opportunity to remain closely connected to the industry while helping improve the quality of people working within it.
Key responsibilities
The successful candidate will:
- Plan and deliver practical and theoretical arboriculture training to a consistently high standard.
- Deliver training leading to relevant City & Guilds NPTC Certificates of Competence.
- Provide clear, accurate and professional technical demonstrations.
- Prepare candidates thoroughly for independent NPTC assessment.
- Develop genuine practical competence rather than simply coaching candidates to pass an assessment.
- Adapt training to suit candidates with different experience levels, abilities and learning needs.
- Identify unsafe habits, poor techniques and gaps in technical understanding.
- Provide honest, constructive feedback and appropriate corrective training.
- Prepare training sites, equipment, risk assessments and emergency arrangements.
- Maintain high standards of safety, organisation and presentation throughout all training activities.
- Ensure chainsaws, climbing equipment, machinery, personal protective equipment and training resources are suitable and properly maintained.
- Maintain accurate attendance, training, feedback and candidate records.
- Use and contribute to the continued development of our digital learner resources and e-portfolio systems.
- Produce or update technical workbooks, presentations, videos and other learning materials.
- Support internal quality assurance, standardisation and continuous improvement.
- Maintain current technical knowledge through regular continuing professional development.
- Represent Great Oaks professionally when dealing with candidates, employers, awarding organisations, assessors and industry partners.
Depending on your qualifications and experience, training may include:
- Chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting
- Tree felling and processing
- Tree climbing and aerial rescue
- Aerial cutting using a chainsaw
- Pruning and branch removal
- Sectional dismantling and rigging
- Woodchipper and stump grinder operation
- Pole-mounted chainsaw operation
- Emergency procedures and rescue planning
- Refresher and skills-development training
- Bespoke training for arboricultural businesses and operational teams
You will not be expected to deliver training outside your qualifications, technical competence or approved scope.
About you
We are looking for someone with genuine operational credibility and a strong commitment to professional arboriculture.
Candidates and employers must be able to trust that the person delivering their training understands the realities of the work and demonstrates the same standards they expect from others.
You should be able to explain technical subjects clearly, remain patient with candidates of different abilities and challenge unsafe or substandard practice appropriately.
You should also be organised, dependable and comfortable using digital systems for course administration and learner records.
Essential requirements
You should have:
- Significant recent practical experience within arboriculture, forestry or a closely related field.
- A strong portfolio of relevant City & Guilds NPTC Certificates of Competence.
- Excellent practical ability in the areas you will deliver.
- A thorough understanding of safe systems of work, risk assessment and emergency planning.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- The confidence to deliver practical demonstrations and technical explanations.
- High personal and professional standards.
- Good organisational, written and record-keeping skills.
- Confidence using digital systems and learning resources.
- A commitment to continuing professional development.
- A full UK driving licence.
- The right to work in the United Kingdom.
Desirable qualifications and experience
The following would be advantageous:
- A recognised teaching or training qualification.
- Existing City & Guilds NPTC assessor status.
- Successful Technical Evaluations in relevant NPTC qualifications.
- Experience delivering commercial arboriculture or chainsaw training.
- Experience preparing candidates for independent NPTC assessment.
- A Level 3 or higher qualification in arboriculture, forestry or a related subject.
- Experience producing digital learning materials or managing e-portfolios.
- Quality assurance or standardisation experience.
Where an individual holds the necessary NPTC approvals, there may also be opportunities to undertake independent assessments for candidates they have not trained.
What we offer
- A highly competitive salary reflecting experience and capability.
- A long-term role within a growing specialist training centre.
- Funded teaching and training qualifications for the right candidate.
- Support towards appropriate NPTC assessor approvals and Technical Evaluations, subject to eligibility.
- Additional technical training and continuing professional development.
- The opportunity to move away from the daily physical demands of full-time production work while remaining actively involved in arboriculture.
- Access to operational expertise through our ARB Approved Contractor sister companies.
- The opportunity to help develop courses, digital resources and training standards.
- A role where your knowledge can make a measurable difference to the quality of people working in the industry.
The Great Oaks standard
We want Great Oaks Training to become recognised for excellence in practical arboriculture training.
Our candidates should leave us safe, capable, professional and proud of their work.
We are therefore looking for a trainer who shares our belief that qualifications should represent real competence and that improving people improves the industry as a whole.
Applicants should submit a CV, details of their relevant technical qualifications and a brief statement explaining why they are interested in the role.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a technical interview and a short practical training demonstration.
Pay: Up to £40,251.03 per year
Work Location: In person
