Being an arborist is physically demanding work but highly rewarding with a direct impact on the protection of Britain’s trees, a regular connection with nature and clear progression pathways. At Nicholsons, we’re huge advocates of supporting career development and encouraging new talent into the industry and our business.

That said, the UK arboriculture and forestry sector is experiencing severe skills shortages. The UK’s statutory environmental and tree-planting targets require an estimated 14,000 – 15,000 new jobs across the forestry and arboriculture sectors. Specific shortages include technical specialists, climbing arborists, management and science roles, including tree care, sustainable forest science and using new technologies to support forest health (The University of Birmingham, November 2025).

Keen to meet this challenge head-on, we proudly collaborate with passionate education providers such as BCA College, who provide a varied programme of land-based apprenticeships as well as suppliers such as Arbortec, manufacturers of high-quality protective PPE, so we can provide students with a dynamic, safe and professional route into the green sector.

For National Apprenticeship Week, we’re sharing the experience of Ami Barbour, an arboricultural apprentice, who works with the Nicholsons’ Arboriculture team while studying at BCA College. Her path into arboriculture hasn’t been traditional but it reflects the many ways people find their way into the industry.

Starting out

Ami has always felt at home outdoors. After completing a horticulture course, she spent several years gardening but eventually realised she wanted to build on her skills.

“I really enjoyed the work but I knew I wanted to upskill and challenge myself further.”

A chainsaw course introduced her to arboriculture. A conversation with her assessor about her rock-climbing hobby sparked the idea that tree work might suit her.

Before joining Nicholsons, she worked in horticulture within a prison, teaching classes and supporting food‑growing projects.

“That experience gave me so many transferable skills… plant knowledge, resilience, manual work and the ability to communicate with a wide range of personalities.”

Learning through apprenticeship

Ami applied for the apprenticeship route because she wanted structured development rather than piecemeal short courses.

“I started without a huge amount of knowledge but I was welcomed straight into the team and included in so much from the beginning.”

Her role covers every aspect of the job, from ground work to climbing, to using equipment and helping with hedge cutting.

“Climbing is definitely my favourite. I’m practising more and more and hoping to progress into more advanced cutting and working on spikes soon.”

The link between college and work

Alongside her work, Ami studies at BCA College, where classroom learning reinforces the practical elements of her day-to-day work.

“Sometimes on site, you see something interesting but there isn’t always time to go into detail. Then at college, those topics come up again and get explained in different ways, which helps it stick.”

She particularly enjoyed learning about cable bracing – something she doesn’t regularly use at work but found valuable to understand in depth.

Equipment that fits the work

Ami notes how much proper equipment has supported her learning, including women’s‑fit PPE options from suppliers like Arbortec.

“You don’t realise how much better some ranges suit you until you actually try them – things like a narrower waist make a big difference in comfort and movement.”

Having the chance to try different harnesses also helped her build confidence.

What makes the job rewarding

One of the things Ami appreciates most about arboriculture is how varied and unexpected the work can be.

“You’re outside all the time, working in beautiful places – private gardens and spaces most people never get to see. You get to ‘see the unseen.’”

She also enjoys the teamwork, whether that’s learning new skills, sharing lunches in the van or improvising shelters in the rain!

The technical side of the job continues to surprise her.

“Trees are more complex than people realise. There’s more maths involved than you’d expect.”

Learning about diseases, species and diagnostic tools has become one of her favourite parts of training.

Balancing study and life

Ami finds the apprenticeship flexible enough to suit different levels of ambition.

“You can do the basics to pass or really go deeper and aim for a distinction. I sometimes go down research rabbit holes because I find topics so interesting.”

Her coaches support her interest by sending additional resources when she wants to explore a topic further.

Looking ahead

Ami’s goals are clear and purposeful: to grow her confidence, explore more advanced tree work and eventually help train someone else.

“Crane work is something I’d love to get into one day and eventually, I’d really like to pass my knowledge on and support an apprentice of my own.”

She also hopes more people feel encouraged to explore arboriculture, no matter their background.

“You don’t have to be super strong or a certain type of person. If you have determination, resilience and passion, there’s space in this industry for everyone.”

As we mark National Apprenticeship Week, Ami’s story reminds us why investing in people at the early stages of their career matters. Her curiosity, commitment and willingness to learn reflect the values we see across our teams every day. At Nicholsons, we’re proud to support apprentices like Ami as they grow their skills and confidence in arboriculture. If her journey resonates with you or with someone you know, you can explore our current career opportunities here to see where your own path might begin.