Regional Lead for Scotland - Growing Together Programme in Central

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 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 is a team effort!

The successful contractor will have experience of either setting up a community tree nursery or working in the horticulture or tree sector. You will have experience of engaging and training adults and young people to develop their horticulture knowledge and the skills associated with tree growing and planting in a mix of different settings including schools.

You will be familiar with the complex and ever-changing demands faced by voluntary/community organisations and schools - from the complexities of staff and volunteer capacity, with teams often juggling multiple jobs, to funding challenges and management pressures. You will have excellent organisational skills and be a strong communicator, used to working collaboratively with many different organisations. You will demonstrate a positive approach to inspire others.

Working independently, you will solve problems and provide specialist advice when needed (either your own or seek specialist advice) and find practical solutions to enable CTNs to develop their plans in a safe and cost-effective way. Attention to detail, a positive outlook and tenacity will be key. This is a challenging time for schools and community organisations, so your ability to problem-solve, inspire and support new and existing CTNs to achieve their goals will play an important role in the success of the programme.

Above all, you should be passionate about the ecological and social transformation Growing Together can achieve in some of the most deprived communities in the UK. The services will ideally start in early September 2026, and finish in June 2027 covering a total of 40 weeks (excluding Christmas and Easter school holidays). There is potential for contract extension, subject to funding.