Tree Life's Accredited Training Programme in Urban Tree Management

NEW for 2022-23 A replacement for the Level 6 Diploma

The Skills & Education Group (SEG) have announced that the Level 6 Certificate and Diploma in Arboriculture is being withdrawn. Currently, in our industry we still have the academic route however we know it is important for our industry to maintain the competence-based training and so we are introducing the Accredited Training Programme in Urban Tree Management (ATP), awarded by Tree Life and SEG jointly.

Our joint enterprise with SEG has been written by Dave Dowson, the principal author of the current Levels 2, 4 and 6 current qualifications. The Urban Tree Management Programme has been tailored for employability – for tree officers and consultants alike. While the ATP is not an Ofqual registered qualification, we believe the industry will embrace this as the next step of their professional path. The Programme will be externally moderated for quality assurance by SEG Awards just as the current qualifications are. The certificates will be awarded by SEG Group jointly with Tree Life Arboricultural Training. Tree Life remains an approved provider of training giving us the seal of approval that training will continue to be to our exceptionally high standard.

Tree Life is proud to add that our Accredited Training Programme is recognised by the Arboricultural Association!

Our Purpose: The programme prepares those currently practising in tree management to develop their careers. A strategic, advanced, diagnostic and research-level course written to be equivalent to a first degree, the Accredited Training Programme in Urban Tree Management gives them a high level of skills and knowledge that can help them become consultants and/or Tree Officers and work towards Fellowship of industry bodies and Chartered status with the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

Ideally, learners will have taken the SEG Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture or equivalent qualification along with relevant experience before attempting this programme, ideally experience in a Consultative role or Tree Officer position, however, Tree Life is happy to discuss which course is best for each candidate depending on their experience.

The Urban Tree Management Programme has been tailored for employability – for tree officers and consultants alike.

To allow both parties to gain their respective understanding of a topic, at times tree officers undertake a slightly different role to that of a consultant within the same topic: there are questions that you can choose from depending on what your current focus is – this is an ideal way of tailoring the program to the candidate's knowledge and skill needs.

Our joint enterprise with SEG has been written by Dave Dowson, the principal author of the current Levels 2, 4 and 6 qualifications.

An Arboricultural Level 6 Qualification has existed in various forms since 1968 and served the arboricultural professional extremely well. The competency-based nature of it has set it aside from academic qualifications and made it a premier qualification for consultants and tree officers alike since the 1960s. The replacement still provides the same competency-based training, ensuring the industry still has the professional route alongside the academic route.

Tree Life is proud to add that our Accredited Training Programme is recognised by the Arboricultural Association!

Have a look at the article in the Autumn 2022 issue of Arb Magazine here;https://www.trees.org.uk/News-Blog/Latest-News/New-Accredited-Training-Programme-in-Urban-Tree-Management.

Format of the Programme:

The Tree Life course is designed to take you through the Programme in two years, with monthly releases of information from September to June each year. Where possible we work to a traditional academic term timetable.

The Programme is made up of 4 mandatory components.

Strategic Urban Tree Management
Advanced Urban Tree Management
Diagnostic Processes in Urban Tree Management
Research in Urban Tree Management

The assessment will be by internal assessment; therefore candidates will be submitting work to Tree Life which will build up not only their knowledge as a resource for future work but also build into a portfolio of evidence of completed work. The portfolio will form the evidence required for external moderation.

Venues:

We are online for the September 2023 academic year; on the basis of industry feedback currently, the ATP is available online only. We have found candidates appreciate the flexibility and the lack of travel, with live face-to-face elements and 1-2-1 tutor access for the best of both worlds! To get a booklet of information about this course please email admin@treelifeac.co.uk for more details.

The Course Tutor:

At Tree Life, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide first-class training and therefore this means that we require the best tutors. For the ATP Tony Price is our Programme Manager, Andy and Dave are both stepping back this year and will be supporting Tony from the background. The programme has been developed by Dave Dowson, including all programme elements; he will be appearing in many of your video lectures alongside Andy Summerley and Tony Price. Tree Life occasionally uses specialists for certain subjects but with Tony's wealth of experience, candidates will be in good hands throughout the course. Candidates have support and experience from others on their course as well. Most of our group members in our various courses continue to interact with each other long after their courses have finished!

In summary:

Complete the Accredited Training Programme in Urban Tree Management in two years or activate support from us for a further year if you don't quite manage it in the two years.
Courses are part-time and designed to fit around work.
Internal assessment means no external examinations!
Tree Life prepares candidates not just for the completion of the course but for the next job in hand; we think being consultants ourselves aids the level of training.
A highly qualified Tutor who is also a well-respected consultant in his own right.
20 sessions across a 2-year period, with a summer break. Starting in September each year with the second year starting in the following September and moderation in the September after that, thereby taking two years to complete the course.
Option to apply for the Tree Life Sponsorship program and gain £1700.00 towards your studies

Payment Options:

Since the beginning Tree Life has always offered payment options with NO interest charged and this year is no different. Candidates can choose from a range of options that spread across the length of the course:

to pay in one lump sum at the start of the course
14 interest-free Direct Debits
Early Bird Rate available

Click here to see testimonials from learners. See their thoughts on us and the qualifications themselves.

Requirements:

It is ideal if a candidate has achieved the SEG Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture or an equivalent qualification in Arboriculture before attempting this programme, along with relevant experience in Arboriculture, ideally experience in a Consultative role or Tree Officer position. However, each candidate should have discussed with Tree Life their past experience and current qualifications before applying to the course to ensure that they attend the right one.

Ideal if a candidate has achieved a level two theory qualification in arboriculture before attempting this qualification. However, each candidate should have discussed with Tree Life their past experience and current qualifications before applying to the course to ensure that they attend the right one.

At Tree Life, we want to ensure that every candidate is on the right course at the right time for them as this makes for the best environment in which to learn and ensure the best chances for the candidate to succeed on their course.

Access to a computer with an internet connection and an email address is essential for each candidate due to the receiving of materials and the completion of work for their portfolios.

So call 0116 260 6939 or email us for further advice and details!

Sign up for the course and save your space!

The ATP is now fully booked for 2024. Next intake: September 2025 - applications are now open - contact us for more information. Following intake: September 2026.