Application pack

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in being a New Forest Apprentice Ranger. We hope you find all the information you need within this pack. If you have any queries, please contact us on 01590 646649 / 646637 or email recruit@newforestnpa.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely
Recruitment team

Contents

• Section 1 – The organisations and the role
• Section 2 – Summary main terms and conditions
• Section 3 – Find out more
• Section 4 – Guidance notes for competing the application form
• Section 5 – The application process

Attachments

• Role profile
• Application form
• Equal opportunities in employment form

The New Forest apprentice ranger scheme is a partnership between the following organisations:

• New Forest National Park Authority – www.newforestnpa.gov.uk
• Forestry England – www.forestry.gov.uk
• National Trust – www.nationaltrust.org.uk
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust – www.hiwwt.org.uk
• Hampshire County Council – www.hants.gov.uk

The successful apprentices will be employed by the New Forest National Park Authority for the 12 month period but will work across all five organisations within and just outside the National Park. This will involve moving from one organisation to the next in blocks of up to three months giving opportunities to gain practical experience in all aspects of environmental conversation and recreation management.

One day a week, for two six week blocks, will be spent at Kingston Maurward College in Dorset where the following qualifications will be gained:

• Level 2 Diploma in Environmental Conservation (work-based)
• Level 2 Award in Business Management for the Environment and Land-based Sector
• Functional Skills in English and Maths
• Accredited certified training in Chainsaw, Safe use of Pesticides and Brushcutters and Strimmers, First Aid

For general information about apprenticeships, please visit the Kingston Maurward website – www.kmc.ac.uk or ‘Become an apprentice’ www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Minimum requirements

There is no minimum or maximum age limit for applicants, but you must have a clean and valid driving licence required to drive the dedicated Apprentice Ranger vehicle. A basic level of English and Maths is required. Functional skills in English and Maths can be taught additionally at Kingston Maurward as necessary. Please note- the apprenticeship is not available for those who have already gained a Level 2 Diploma or higher qualification in a related subject. Some experience of paid or voluntary work and a commitment to a career in Countryside Management is essential.

SECTION 1 – The organisations and the role

SECTION 2 – Summary main terms and conditions

Location

This post will work within and just outside the boundary of the New Forest. Each organisation has its own “base” as follows:

Annual leave

The basic holiday entitlement for this post is 22 days per annum plus all public holidays and an extra statutory day awarded at Christmas.

Travel and business costs

Expenses are met for business travel. Employees must arrange suitable motor insurance cover to include business travel before undertaking any car travel on the NPA’s behalf.

SECTION 3 – Find out more

If you are interested in applying but would like to find out more about what it means to be a New Forest Apprentice Ranger, please contact Gillie Molland, New Forest National Park Authority Lead Ranger for an informal telephone chat on 01590 646682 or email gillie.molland@newforestnpa.gov.uk

You will be able to receive advice about the application procedure, how to make the most of your application, and how the apprenticeship will work. You can also ask any questions you might have to help you make an informed choice as to whether to pursue this opportunity and what you can expect if you are successful.

SECTION 4 – Guidance notes for completing the application form

The information you provide on your application form is the information we will use when deciding whether to invite you for interview. CVs are not accepted.

This section acts as a guide to help you complete your application form. There are several different sections to the form:

• Education and qualifications
  List all your formal educational qualifications and any relevant informal or job-related training. Please remember to include details of any professional institutions which you belong to and any other further training and achievements you feel necessary.
• Present and previous employment
  Start with your current or most recent employer, then list all your past employers in chronological date order, giving the job title, your main duties and how long you were there. This is where you should include any volunteering you have undertaken.
• References
  Please give your current or most recent employers as referees wherever possible, or someone who is able to provide information on your skills and abilities such as a teacher or lecturer.
• Additional information
  This section is your opportunity to demonstrate to us you are the most suited applicant. The role profile we have provided describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post whilst the person specification outlines the criteria needed to carry out these duties. Do not repeat your career history but try to use different examples of how you meet the criteria and put down relevant skills and experience, not everything you have done to date.

Write in a clear, concise and positive way, using words such as "I planned... or I organised..., I assisted with… or I co-ordinated" and support your statements with clear and relevant examples.

SECTION 5 – The application process

Returning the application form

The closing date for completed application forms to be submitted is 2pm on 13 August 2019. Make sure you submit your application on or before this deadline as applications received after the given date will not be considered. Please upload completed applications using the online facility or alternatively post to:

You are not required to sign your application at this stage if you are submitting it online.

Your application must be submitted in a compatible format such as Word or a PDF.

Remember to ensure that the post title is stated in the space provided at the top of the application form so that we can identify the post for which you are applying.

Interview details

Interviews will be held in Lyndhurst, Hampshire on Tuesday 3 September 2019. If you are invited to attend an interview, you will need to be available for most of the day as the selection process will include a group task as well as a traditional interview.

A contribution towards interview expenses is made in accordance with our policy.

Equal opportunities monitoring

The New Forest National Park Authority aims to promote equality of opportunity. All practicable steps will be taken to facilitate the employment of disabled people. Don’t forget to complete the equal opportunities monitoring form and return it with your application. It enables us to make sure our policies are working and that the best person for the job is appointed. We will guarantee an interview to people with disabilities who meet the minimum job criteria. If you want to claim a guaranteed interview you will need to ensure that you tick the correct box on the application form.

After you have applied

All applications will be acknowledged. Following this we will only be contacting those applicants who we have selected for interview. Therefore, if you have not received an invite to interview within two weeks of the closing date then your application will not have been successful on this occasion. For any queries please email recruit@newforestnpa.gov.uk or telephone 01590 646649 / 646637 during normal office hours.