UK Government - Forestry Commission Employee Reviews

Great organisation to work for, out and about within the forest environment, a great team to work with helping each other as much as possible. Good opportunities are available for promotion.

Pros

High autonomy

Cons

Low pay compared with private sector

Was this review helpful?

Very productive to achieve my goal

Data Administrator (Former Employee) - Edinburgh - 26 May 2022

I have incredible experience at work, excellent management & workplace culture. Very helpful colleagues. To adjust with different culture people was quite difficult initially, afterwards, It was fun to know people globally.

Was this review helpful?

Insights into UK Government - Forestry Commission

Based on 4 survey responses

What people like

Support from manager
Ability to learn new things
Clear sense of purpose

Areas for improvement

Fair pay for job

Don’t do it

Mechanic (Former Employee) - Lochgilphead - 29 October 2021

Really poor pay, poor pension scheme, diabolical management, discrimination is rife. Good hours good holidays but still not a good job as pay is soo far bellow industry standard

Was this review helpful?

Poor management and underfunded

District Civil Engineer (Former Employee) - Bellingham - 2 October 2021

The majority of people were very friendly and good to work with, very understaffed and lack of money puts a lot of stress onto head of departments, poor wages compared to private company's.

Pros

People

Cons

Management

Was this review helpful?

Lovely People - Not so much the actual work

Administrator (Current Employee) - Devon - 25 January 2020

The people and the Forestry Commission make the organisation. Lovely people to work with, however the job itself is not really what I am about. Admin work is part of my daily tasks, however I do miss interacting with the public and customer service.

Was this review helpful?

Rate your recent company

Share your experience to help others

Overall not a bad place to work

Specialist Enquiries Officer (Former Employee) - Farnham - 28 October 2019

Working with like-minded people. Happy environment and nice surrounding environment in the middle of Alice Holt Forest. Subsidiary discounts. A little underpaid for work carried out.

Was this review helpful?

Very good

General Assistant (Former Employee) - Brockenhurst, Hampshire - 15 September 2019

Loved working within the forestry commission, I am an out doors person and love nature and the countryside so learning and working was an absolute pleasure

Pros

Learning and helping the environment

Cons

Lots of red tape

Was this review helpful?

Productive, fun and forever learning environment

Business Support Officer (Current Employee) - Bristol - 2 July 2019

Great for improving your skills. Managers very open minded and empathic. A great place to expand on and educate yourself on England's forestry and woodland creatures.

Pros

home working

Was this review helpful?

Research driven, friendly atmosphere

Intern in the Entomology and Pathology Unit (Former Employee) - Highlands, Harare - 12 March 2019

The company is resaerch drivern in teh reaserch and training division, therefore generally, the division is often looking for new developments in all the units. Free lunches and transport into teh Central Business District are provided. Renumeration is generally below standard, often half salary may be deposisted for months on end.

Pros

Free lunches, Reseaach driven

Cons

Low renumeration

Was this review helpful?

A great place to work

Content Designer (Current Employee) - Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh - 18 February 2019

Despite a chaotic transition (still in progress) from one agency type to another this is a great place to work with lovely people, excellent benefits and great support.

Was this review helpful?

Jobs at UK Government - Forestry Commission

See more jobs

Weekend Visitor Service Officer

Forest

13 days ago

Active Forest Coordinator, Wendover Woods

Corporate Affairs Team Support Officer

Enjoyed every minute of it

Forest management (Former Employee) - Argyllshire - 23 January 2019

Left their employment due to family health issues. Passionate about trees and the environment, this was my ideal job. This was a job where you felt you could make a difference to people’s lives and the general environment.

Pros

Ideal job.

Cons

None.

Was this review helpful?

Great place to work

Visitor Services Operative (Current Employee) - Cannock Chase, Staffordshire - 20 May 2018

Great place to work but unfortunately it is only temporary but have loved it whilst I was in college. Now I have finished it is time to move on and begin my career

Pros

Great colleagues

Cons

No chance of progression

Was this review helpful?

Great company to work for, shame it won't last

Service Desk Analyst (Current Employee) - Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh - 26 January 2018

The Forestry Commission as it currently exists is a great company to work for. Everyone is friendly and helpful, it's like being part of a group of friends working on something together. However due to the Country split, the Forestry Commission as it stands will cease to exist soon, and I think the new company will become like many others and will be a sterile and non-personal one to work for.

Pros

Flexi time.

Cons

Morale currently low due to division.

Was this review helpful?

good place to work

Voluntary Worker (Former Employee) - Forest of Dean - 9 January 2018

I enjoyed working with my associate who taught me everything. I liked being outside in the forest. I enjoyed cutting down trees with different saws. we made a bench in the woodhouse. it was a great experience

Pros

we had lunch provided

Cons

bad weather

Was this review helpful?

Productive and fun workplace

Volunteer (Former Employee) - Market Rasen, Lincolnshire - 15 October 2017

Even though it was only work experience/volunteering, I ensured that I gave my all because it was my duty to do so. It was difficult work in hot, sunny weather, but due to hard work and determination, I was able to complete what was required of me.

Cons

Long hours, early starting time

Was this review helpful?

Good place to work with frenidly people

Engineer (Current Employee) - Northwich - 3 October 2017

The position has enabled me to expand my Engineering experience and development my skills. Enable me to network with my peers across the country share ideas. The only downside is many managers are not "managers" as with most government bodies have been internally promoted but given the key skills to manage staff.

Pros

Good work life balance, outside enviroment in the woods

Cons

Salary

Was this review helpful?

Very boring

Volunteer (Former Employee) - Mansfield, Nottinghamshire - 7 September 2017

Forestry commision was boring due to doing it with friends from school and teachers, me as an individual don't like to be doing work with friends because i am easily distracted by them if im on my own then im always on task.

Pros

Free lunch

Cons

The days dragged.

Was this review helpful?

Excellent

Customer Service (Former Employee) - Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - 5 September 2017

Good people to work for They are very informative, proactive, hardworking, passionate Enjoyed working with them Very welcoming and supportive They do deserve a lot more in looking after the environment as well as dealing with customers, excellent customer service.

Was this review helpful?

A great environment to work in!

Area Civil Engineer (Current Employee) - East of England. Norfolk, south coast and Oxford - 11 July 2017

No two days the same. From programming works, to inspecting dams and bridges. Designing, preparing contract documents and tendering. RE on a tree top walk way. Constructing car parks, roads trails, mountain bike trails, installing and designing service, sewage, water, electric, tele comms cctv. Providing professional advice on civil engineering and providing SHE advice as well as part of the country HS Wellbeing safety group. The worst part of the job is not being a specialist, but an all round jack of all trades, but that means there is always something new! The culture in the Forestry Commission is a can do attitude.

Pros

Working in the Forest. Varied job.

Cons

Lots of travel, low pay

Was this review helpful?

enjoyable

Tree Planter (Former Employee) - Moray - 11 April 2017

was hard work and also very tiring long days and being paid by the tree meant you had to give it youre all everytime you went out whitch i saw as a good challenge

Was this review helpful?

Very interesting job

Woodcutter (Former Employee) - Dumfries and Galloway - 3 April 2017

I started this job in the early 70s when I was 15 years old. I stayed in this job for roughly 8 years and I found it very enjoyable. I found being outdoors very exciting and enjoyed working outside.

Was this review helpful?