Regional Lead Scotland - Together Programme

The Tree Council’s Growing Together programme, supported by M&G plc, is transforming communities and nature through locally grown trees. The programme sets out to double the number of tree nurseries in communities and schools across the UK by autumn 2028 to help shape a greener, more connected and resilient future.

We are now seeking an independent contractor as Regional Lead for Scotland
. This is to provide tree growing expertise, grant-preparation support and training to inspire and enable local community groups and schools to set up their own community tree nurseries, to grow and plant trees in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Scotland.

In our pilot year, we successfully supported 81 community tree nurseries (CTNs) across the UK. This included helping 36 community organisations and schools to establish a new CTN, offering face-to-face visits, advice, training and the practical resources needed to grow local healthy trees.

The programme also supported existing community tree nurseries with capital grants, including for biosecurity equipment. Some well-established CTNs received additional funding to enable them to offer outreach support to community growers regionally in the form of training, resource development and online peer to peer learning.

New CTNs are supported on a day-to-day basis by three independent Regional Leads who work across Southern England, Northern England and Scotland, circa two days a week. The Tree Council’s wider Growing Together team offers overarching operations and delivery support to the Regional Leads and CTNs involved in the programme. Although this Scotland contractor role is independent, it's a team effort!

The successful contractor will have experience of either setting up a community tree nurseryorworking in the horticulture, ortree sector. You will have experience of engaging and training adults and young peopleto develop theirhorticulture knowledge and theskillsassociated with tree growing and plantingin a mix of different settings including schools.

You will be familiar with the complex and ever-changing demandsfaced byvoluntary/community organisations and schools-fromthecomplexitiesof staff and volunteer capacity, with teamsoften juggling multiple jobs, tofunding challenges and management pressures.

You will have excellent organisational skills and be a strong communicator,used toworking collaboratively with many differentorganisations. You will demonstrate apositive approach toinspireothers. Working independently, you willsolveproblems andprovidespecialistadvicewhen needed(either your own or seek specialist advice) and findpractical solutions to enable CTNs to develop their plansin a safe andcost-effectiveway.

Attention to detail, a positive outlook and tenacity will be key.

This isa challenging time for schools,and communityorganisations,so your ability to problem-solve, inspire and support new and existing CTNs to achievetheir goals will playan important rolein the success of the programme.

Above all, youshould be passionate aboutthe ecological and social transformation

Growing

Together can achieve in some of the most deprived communities in the UK.

The services will ideally startin early September
2026, and finishinJune
2027coveringa total of 40 weeks (excluding Christmas and Easter school holidays). There is potential forcontractextension, subject to funding.

For lots more details please visit The Tree Council's jobs page: