Forestry Commmission for Scotland requires that the lease holder has L2, mauual lifting course, current first aid cert, access to trained dog within 20mins, 4x4, provide weekly cull reports to ranger and all bottom jaws be put in a bin provided. Additionally all other members must have L1 and be working towards L2, i underrstand the number to not exceded 6 members total.
It really changed a lot last year, its much harder to get into the leases which are probationary for the first year and run for 5.
You are first invited to view the land with the ranger and then invited to participate in a closed bid tender. Theres no guarentee that you will win the bid either and they appear to work on a points system, i.e. the more qualifications you have the higher up the pecking order you get; if you are succesful you need tp play it safe and comply with all the detail requirements, if you breach any part of the contract or fail to hit the cull target set by the rangers your cantract can be terminated.
FCS now take the leases very seriously. What it does do is really allow you to stalk land to a proper cull plan, it proibits under knowledged people and or who are not dedicated being there.
Clearly its not for everyone due to some of the conditions but if it fits with you then the great thing is that you can generally get a lot for your money, if you do a great job and the ranger like you then it certainly opens doors.
Good luck guys.