Arborist seeking lateral career change to Scotland from the US

[Stephen Moody]

Hi everyone,

I’m an ISA Certified Arborist from the US with experience in plant health care, tree injections, diagnostics, IPM, and residential/commercial tree care. My wife is planning to pursue a master’s and eventually a doctorate at UHI in Inverness, and we’re seriously considering relocating to the Highlands long-term through the student/dependent visa route.  I’m trying to understand the best path professionally once in Scotland.

My interests lean toward:

• arboriculture
• forestry/woodland management
• environmental management
• renewable energy/environmental compliance
• vegetation management
• tree health and consulting

I’m debating between:

1. moving first and trying to enter the industry with my current experience,
2. pursuing a UK MSc in Environmental Management (possibly at UHI) after relocating,
3. or trying to complete a degree before moving.

For those working in Scotland/Highlands:

• How transferable is US arboriculture experience?
• Would an MSc in environmental management (or something similar) significantly improve employability in the Highlands?
• Are practical skills valued more than credentials in forestry/environmental sectors?
• What industries around Inverness seem strongest long-term?
• Any advice on realistic entry points for someone with my background?

I’d really appreciate honest insight from people working in the field.

Thanks!

[southernbelt]

In terms of understanding trees in the highlands it’s like with anywhere else. You go somewhere new and the difference in climate makes the species your so used too look very different and act different. 
the forestry industry is your best bet here if you want to enter academically. It’s one of the highlands biggest industries and the science aspect here is taken very seriously in the uk’s massively dwindling useable timber market. There’s a lot of instability politically at the moment and although furthering production of timber isn’t at the fore ground of proposed policy there is a massive push for “rewilding” in the highlands to restore the Caledonian forest. So there’s an expanding realm of work for someone with credentials there.

If arb contracting is what you’re looking at it’s very bread and butter here. Cut down or spank back to boundary will be your main specifications. It’s a little behind in terms of long term management of individual trees like the rest of the uk. Having said that there are a lot of estates here that house some incredible trees of varying sizes and ages. 
 

if your moving to the uk and what to apply both academic and contracting arb to work in 

the Surrey belt south of london is your best bet. It’s the epicentre of wealthy landowners who have money to spend on management and retention, lots of estates and gardens etc who go out of their way to fund the upkeep of their land and trees. Lots and lots of great work. The developing practices used by arb contractors in the area is expansive and very interesting. 
 

im not a professional of anything but I hope that gives you some insight

[Stephen Blair]

If you’re a cutter/ climber stick up pics of your work.

£200-£250 a day if your good as a sub contractor.  There’s a lot of miles of small roads up here and your competition for work are a tough breed.  So expect 5.30am starts and late finishes in some extreme weather.

 

If your academic Forestery Land Scotland, renewables, rewilding.  No idea about wages on that side of things.  
 

good luck! 

[PeteB]

The UHI Forestry School did tell me that they get a kicking every year as there is more demand for placements in dog grooming and stuff and that filled the place up whereas the Forestry side was expensive to run and often hard to fill. If you want a contact there, send me a message, the Tech guy I previously spoke to was knowledgeable and would have a wealth of contacts too.