Licenced small arb contractors?

[petestarbuck]

You plough every spare penny into getting the right kit, getting the mega bucks liability insurance, and then, as John p says, you have to find more to join the club. I'm only suggesting a different club, a co-operative, non profit organisation which if ran right could help the smaller operator get a look in. Not trying to take anything away from the A A, just suggesting an alternative!

 

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[inthewoods]

You plough every spare penny into getting the right kit, getting the mega bucks liability insurance, and then, as John p says, you have to find more to join the club. I'm only suggesting a different club, a co-operative, non profit organisation which if ran right could help the smaller operator get a look in. Not trying to take anything away from the A A, just suggesting an alternative!

 

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I see your point.

 

How about WANG?

 

We Are Not Gypsies!

(& know how to target prune!)

[WesD]

How many on here are 1) part of the aa and 2) get jobs through being part of aa? Suppose I am asking how good is it to be a part of?

 

 

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[Jake Andrews]

You plough every spare penny into getting the right kit, getting the mega bucks liability insurance, and then, as John p says, you have to find more to join the club. I'm only suggesting a different club, a co-operative, non profit organisation which if ran right could help the smaller operator get a look in. Not trying to take anything away from the A A, just suggesting an alternative!

 

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So what are your own objections for not going arb approved Pete?

 

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[aspenarb]

You plough every spare penny into getting the right kit, getting the mega bucks liability insurance, and then, as John p says, you have to find more to join the club. I'm only suggesting a different club, a co-operative, non profit organisation which if ran right could help the smaller operator get a look in. Not trying to take anything away from the A A, just suggesting an alternative!

 

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Pete I cant see how a smaller cooperative would be of any help, you would still need to be H&S compliant, have the same tickets of competence , insured to the same level and tick all the same boxes . The cost and grief would be the same, you don't need to be AA approved but they are well placed for arb . There are many other H&S companies that can get you compliant so worth an hour on the phone.

 

Bob

[petestarbuck]

Can't afford it mate, it's kinda like the straw and camel. Ive spent years trying to get properly established and get in on some good jobs, only to repeatedly be knocked back due to accreditation. I dont have the finances to invest in anything other than equipment and running costs, and I'm pretty sure there are many others out there in the same boat. It's not like I have a grudge against the A A, far from it. Anything that helps us get recognised as an industry, not just over priced gardeners is a positive thing. I'm just thinking of a less costly option. I have seen 3 very good outfits fold as a result of the investment required to become aaac!!

 

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[Thesnarlingbadger]

I for one think the AA are a great organisation and companies that have that AA status seem to do fairly well out of it.

However these tend to be companies that have been running for a long time and have build up the cash to throw at this kind of scheme.

I am in no position to go arb approved as I still have a nice long list of kit to buy. This doesn't mean I don't work to the same standard as an AA contractor and clients can see this when I do a job for them.

Not being arb approved has not ever been an issue for me as most my work is domestic and 90% of my jobs are from word of mouth, in my opinion I think this is still the best form of advertising and AA contractor would not gain me enough domestic work for me to justify it at the moment.

To the OP what I'm saying is I'm a small business to and I don't feel I have ever needed any scheme to gain me more work. Maybe I'm wrong but I just think if you do a good job, work hard, are polite/friendly and leave the garden cleaner than you found it you will never be too short of work.

Also out of curiosity how many people out there that own their own business have every been asked if they are Arb approved when quoting? I know I haven't. The only thing that I may be asked is am I insured or qualified.

[John Shutler]

I won a free assessment for my first years AAAC through a recommendation by my local tree officer

[john p]

I reckon being aaac would defo open doors on the high end/ n trust side of things but for most domestics/commercial I've never heard them mentioned, the thing that I would like to know is what tangible difference have they made in the day to day running of everyone's working lives, and what have they actually done to improve tree work across the board? Genuine question. It does sometimes appear a self fufilling club that all though well intentioned doesn't achieve much? I'm gonna get shot down in flames I'm sure

[Billy]

The AAAC scheme seems quite scalable from what I've seen reading through the notes, would take a little effort to make sure everything is fully compliant at all times but no real bother and certainly not too costly IMO. If it's too much you can get on CHAS, safe contractor etc for a few hundred to any decent H&S consultant or even spend some time providing the necessary documents yourself.