North Scotland training courses

ATV (Quad Bike) – Sit-in and Sit-Astride

This ATV training course is designed for those who are required to ride a quad bike or an ATV as part of their regular duties. It is suitable for users in a range of industries and working environments such as agriculture, forestry, golf courses, leisure complexes, parks and gardens, outdoor shows and events. The course can be delivered for either new or experienced operators. The new operator course is designed for people who have very little or no experience of operating this type of equipment.

Duration: one or two days, depending on experience. 9am-4:30pm
Cost: one day £190, two days £310

Dates available:
4-5 March 2024 (two day novice course) - Aberdeen 
8 March 2024 (one day course) - Aberdeen

Rough Terrain Telescopic Lift Trucks

Rough terrain telescopic lift trucks provide greater ground clearance than standard lift trucks and are used on uneven ground, commonly within the land-based industry. They have a similar appearance and function to forklift trucks, but due to their upwards and forwards reach abilities they are much more versatile.

There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, to undertake experienced operator or refresher training you must be able to show formal training and certification or relevant experience.

Duration: between two and five days depending on experience. 9am-4:30pm
Cost: two days £370, three days £525, five days £840

Excavator 180°

This training course is suitable for anyone who uses or will be using a 180° excavator for either land-based industries or the construction industry. The course allows you to develop the skills and knowledge required in order to operate the machine safely and confidently.

Duration: depending on skill and experience, between one and ten days. Novice operator courses are usually ten days. Experienced operator courses are between two and five days. Refresher courses are delivered in one day. 9am-4:30pm
Location: SRUC Elmwood campus or on customer premises
Booking: Please use the Elmwood training course booking form and follow the instructions within.

Excavator 360° 

360° excavators are widely used throughout the land-based and construction industry, and are so named as they have the ability to revolve a full 360 degrees. They are versatile machines that can be used for a variety of different jobs. This training course is designed for anyone who uses or will be using a 360° excavator in either the land-based or construction industry. The course allows you to develop the skills and knowledge required in order to operate the machine safely and confidently.

Duration: depending on skill and experience, between one and ten days. Novice operator courses are usually ten days. Experienced operator courses are between two and five days. Refresher courses are delivered in one day. 9am-4:30pm
Location: SRUC Elmwood campus or on customer premises
Cost: ten days £1885 per person
Booking: Please use the Elmwood training course booking form and follow the instructions within.

Forward Tipping Dumper 

This training course is suitable for anyone who currently operates or will be required to operate a wheeled forward tipping dumper in the land-based or construction industries. The course allows you to develop the skills and knowledge required in order to operate the forward tipping dumper safely and confidently.

Duration: depending on skill and experience, between one and five days. 9am-4:30pm
Location: SRUC Elmwood campus or on customer premises
Booking: Please use the Elmwood training course booking form and follow the instructions within.

Pesticide Training

SRUC offers a range of pesticide training courses leading to City & Guilds NPTC Certificate of Competence assessments for sprayer operators. These courses are relevant if you spray or store chemicals as part of your job role and are suitable across a wide range of land-based industries.

Our most popular courses are commonly referred to as PA1, PA6 and PA2.

PA1

This course is suitable for those working in forestry, agriculture, horticulture or greenkeeping. It is designed to help you prepare for the National Proficiency Test Council PA1 (Foundation) test.

This course is the foundation module for pesticide application. In order to spray pesticide products, an individual must also hold an application module (such as a PA6 or PA2 qualification) in addition to the PA1. There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Duration: one day, with attendance required to sit the test on another day
Cost: £185
Date: 18 March 2024 - Elmwood

PA2

This course is suitable for those working in forestry, agriculture, horticulture or greenkeeping. It is designed to help you prepare for the National Proficiency Test Council PA2 (Mounted Crop Sprayers) test. The course is aimed at those intending to apply pesticides or currently spraying pesticides using a tractor mounted boom sprayer or a weed wiper from an ATV.

Candidates must pass their PA1 assessment prior to completing testing for PA2.

Duration: one day, with attendance required to sit the test on another day
Cost: £355

PA6

This course is suitable for those working in forestry, agriculture, horticulture or greenkeeping where spraying pesticide is required. It is designed to help you prepare for the National Proficiency Test Council PA6 (Handheld Applicators) test.

Candidates must pass their PA1 assessment prior to completing testing for PA6

Duration: one day, with attendance required to sit the test on another day
Cost: £285

Available Dates:
22 March 2024 - Elmwood
25 March 2024 - Elmwood

Chainsaw Crosscutting and Maintenance

This training course covers chainsaw maintenance, crosscutting and stacking techniques tailored to the your needs. It is delivered by qualified instructors and leads to Lantra Awards certification. There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Duration: two days. 9am-4:30pm
Cost: £305

Available dates:
28 &29 February 2024 - Aberdeen
5 & 6 March 2024 - Elmwood
26 & 27 March 2024 - Elmwood

Chainsaw Maintenance, Cross-cutting and Basic Felling up to 200mm

This training course takes place on site or at one of our campuses. It covers chainsaw maintenance, crosscutting and stacking techniques tailored to your needs. You'll learn basic felling techniques, how to de-limb trees and cross-cut timber, as well as dealing with hung-up trees up to 200mm/8ins in diameter. There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Duration: four days, including assessment. 9am-4:30pm
Cost: £560

Brushcutter and Trimmer Operation

This course is designed for anyone who operates a Brushcutter or Trimmer in the course of their employment. It covers the control of unwanted vegetation, ranging from grass and weeds to shrubs and small trees. It is delivered by one of our qualified staff and involves training and assessment. There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Duration: two days. 9am-4:30pm
Cost: £285

Emergency First Aid at Work

In this training and assessment course you’ll learn the key techniques to administer first aid. At the end of the course, you will receive a Lantra certificate of competence in Emergency First Aid at Work and a Skills Identity Card.

Duration: one day. 9am-4pm
Cost: £105

Dates available:
20 February - Elmwood
22 February - Elmwood
26 March - Aberdeen

+F First Aid

Candidates can sit a one-day Emergency First Aid at Work +F if required. This builds on the Emergency First Aid at Work course by concentrating on the special skills which relate to forestry. Our course has been developed to comply with Forestry and Land Scotland Policy and in consultation with Forestry Industry Safety Accord (FISA).

Duration: one day. 9am-5pm
Cost: £105

First Aid at Work Refresher

The course enables you to renew your certificate before it expires. Successful candidates are awarded an SQA Approved 'First Aid At Work' certificate which is valid for a further three years. 

Duration: two days. 9am-4:30pm
Cost: £180

Animal Transportation Short Journey

This assessment allows you to apply for a Certificate of Competence required for people involved in the movement of animals over 65km (40 miles) and less than eight hours in duration. The Certificate is endorsed against one or more categories (sheep, cattle, pigs, horses, goats...), and meets the EU Regulation and Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Order 2006.

The assessment takes place on a computer, and you are required to answer 27 multiple choice questions. The minimum satisfactory score to pass is 21 marks. There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Duration: one hour. Flexible starting time
Cost: £95