Matthew North - Steel Valley Project

Project Manager at The Steel Valley Project, Matthew North, heard about LandSkills YH through the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership and has accessed a wide range of training.

"Companies need to invest in training in order to maintain required skill levels of the industry and increase effectiveness."

 

Based in Stocksbridge, North Sheffield, The Steel Valley Project is a countryside management partnership project that manages woodlands and other green spaces on behalf of land owners with the support of local community groups. 

With 70% funding from LandSkills YH via Yorwoods Matthew has accessed a number of courses including:

• Firewood
• Felling Medium Trees (380 – 760mm) refresher, NPTC
• Basic Tree Inspection, Lantra
• Bats and Arboriculture
• Firewood Production and Supply
• Managing Woodlands for Woodfuel.

When asked how the programme has benefited his career and the project, Matthew said:  "At a personal development level, I've been able to maintain my skills base and update these to increase effectiveness and level of contract work for land owners and agencies.  This includes public rights of way/access management as well as woodlands.

"I've also been better able to provide advice to land owners and develop projects/woodland management and relevant bids to external funders plus manage contracts more effectively with staff."

Matthew thinks other businesses should take advantage of the money available through LandSkills because it "allows continued development and maintenance of skill levels required in the environmental management field.

"Companies need to invest in training in order to maintain required skill levels of the industry and increase effectiveness."

Training doesn't stop here for Matthew as he aims to work towards his Lantra Awards Trainers Award in order to deliver training in-house and sell services to external partners on chainsaw operations, woodchippers etc. 

Matthew said:  "I'm also looking for certification on plant operations such as 360 degree diggers, dumper trucks etc. to facilitate the capital works in woodlands such as access trails and hard standing areas."

"Training has provided effective, relevant, focused training to a high standard that has helped both my personal development but also that of the organisation I manage.   The subsidy from LandSkills YH via Yorwoods has enabled the training and development of myself , staff and trainees.  Without this we would not have the resources to fund such levels of training and obtain relevant certificates required for the organisation’s activities in woodland management and associated works."