The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) is delighted to announce the launch of its new Technical membership category, aimed at opening membership to skilled arboriculturists and foresters currently working in technical roles across the sector.
Institute members voted to introduce the new category at their AGM in May 2021, to support and recognise an under-represented cohort of arboriculturists and foresters working in roles that require high levels of skill, competence and professionalism.
Unlike Professional membership, Technical membership has no mandatory requirement for a degree-level qualification – applicants are assessed solely on their technical ability. Designed to confer a mark of practical experience and professional credibility on those who successfully achieve Technical Member status, Technical membership will boost respect and recognition from senior colleagues, peers, clients, and stakeholders, and also help raise the professional profile of arboriculturists and foresters to the general public.
Commenting on the introduction of Technical membership, Dr Stuart Glen, Member Services Director at the Institute, said:
“The Institute firmly believes that Technical membership will elevate the reputation of these technical roles within the sector, outwith the sector and with the wider public. The introduction of a Technical membership category will ultimately raise professional standards, and serve to address any gaps in the skills and professional development needs of this part of the sector.”
For the past six months, an initial pilot project has seen a small cohort of Associate members trial the Technical Membership Entry process, the standard route to Technical Member status. Two successful applicants, Anna Leveridge TechICFor and Abigail Parravani TechICFor, both of Forestry England, were invited to Shenmore Lodge in Hereford to receive their Technical Member award certificates from President of the Institute, Geraint Richards MVO FICFor, and Louise Simpson, Executive Director of the Institute. The presentation party also included Andrew Sowerby FICFor, Vice President of the ICF and Ben Robinson MICFor, Lead Planning Manager at Forestry England.
Louise Simpson commented:
“It has been wonderful to be here in Shenmore for the launch of our new Technical membership category, and to celebrate the success of our first Technical Members. The Institute’s work focuses strongly on increasing representation and diversity across the sector, and it’s great to see Abigail and Anna leading the way in showcasing forestry as a viable, professional career open to all. Congratulations!”
Geraint Richards MVO FICFor commented:
“Technical membership offers a further opportunity for relevant members of the arboriculture and forestry workforce to hone their career paths with ongoing support from the Institute, allowing them to actively demonstrate the competence and professionalism they exhibit in their daily work. The Institute is proud to bring this new development to the sector, and we look forward to welcoming many new members looking to undertake the TME process.”
The new Technical membership category was originally conceived by Past President of the ICF, Alastair Sandels FICFor, and was subsequently developed through the formation of a dedicated Working Group and ongoing consultations with many sector organisations. The ICF anticipates Technical membership will prove extremely popular, not only amongst individuals keen to demonstrate their professional competence, but also to employers eager to showcase the technical abilities and skills of their staff.
Speaking on the importance of the introduction of the new Technical membership category, Dr Neil Strong MICFor, Biodiversity Strategy Manager at Network Rail, commented:
“I have a significant number of professional colleagues who help manage the green corridors alongside our vast rail infrastructure who haven’t, until now, had an organisation that can help them showcase their professionalism and progress their career. The Institute’s Technical Membership Entry offers a pathway for them to demonstrate their skills, expertise and capabilities in the workplace, and from an employer viewpoint allows us to demonstrate the professional competence of the workforce.”
Further details on the Institute’s new Technical membership category can be found at:
charteredforesters.org/memberships/technical-membership
