James Wild MP backs efforts to encourage more veterans to consider forestry as a career this Armed Forces Week
A military veteran from Castle Acre explained to MPs how he moved into a successful new career in forestry after leaving the armed forces.
Scott Cooper, a harvesting supervisor with Forestry England met North West Norfolk MP James Wild and other MPs and Peers as part of an initiative to get more ex-military personnel into forestry.
Mr Cooper told the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Forestry and Tree Planting about his 23-year career with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) - and the challenges of finding work back on civvy street. He served mainly in Germany as a mechanic, working on a variety of vehicles including Challenger Tanks. But when he left the REME aged 40, the transition was hard.
Scott said:
“Daily decision-making is difficult. When you're in the military, it's pretty much all done for you. You just turn up in the morning, work, go home, and get paid. You don't have to worry about anything. When I moved into my first place after leaving the Army, I didn’t know how to sort out my electricity. It takes a lot of readjustment.”
Mr Cooper said he was attracted to forestry by the chance to work outdoors, which he still enjoys. He was told about a role as a mechanic, fixing forestry machines, which he got - and then became a machine operator in forests including Thetford. He is now a supervisor for Forestry England, overseeing safety and operations on harvesting sites. He now recommends friends - ex-military and others - to consider forestry as a career.
The meeting heard that taster sessions using forestry machines had been run successfully for veterans in Scotland, but not in England.
As part of Armed Forces week helping service personnel transition to civilian life is an important focus. So the APPG agreed to write to Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer MP to ask for financial support to put on taster sessions.
James Wild MP for North West Norfolk said:
“It was great to meet Scott and to hear his story. Military veterans give great service to our country and we must do all we can to help them move successfully into careers after they leave the Armed Forces.
Forestry is a positive option because of the many transferable skills veterans have and I support efforts to allow more ex-forces personnel to find out more about working in the forestry industry.
“Forestry is an important employer locally and the Government has committed to significant tree planting to help tackle climate change which will also support jobs and local economies.”
If interested in a veterans career in forestry, you can visit: https://www.forestryengland.uk/careers for further information
