New Career/Kingswood training

[AriesArborists]

Hi everyone

 

I am new to the site. I am 32 years old, I live in Liverpool and I am thinking of leaving my well paid office job and get myself a trade in becoming an Aborist. I am currently earning 40k a year and I am aware that I will have to take a big dip or even cut in half my salary by making this career choice. Some of you may think I am mad but I am really tired of the office politics and sitting behind a desk all day. I feel really connected with nature and this, I am not new to hard graft I used to work on sites building universities and hotels as a labourer but never actually had a trade behind me.

My plan is to get a month intensive training from Kingswood training centre in Kent which do a full starter course which gives me...
 

NPTC 201/202/203 (CS30/31) – 5-day Lantra Chainsaw Maint. Cross Cutting and Felling of Trees (up to 380mm) plus NPTC Assess

NPTC 206/306 (CS38) – 5-day Lantra Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue – plus NPTC Assess

NPTC 308 (CS39) – 2-day Using Chainsaw from Rope and Harness – plus NPTC Assess

Stumpgrinder – 1 day Lantra or NPTC

Woodchipper – 1 day Lantra or NPTC

Basic Tree Inspection (BTI) – Lantra Qualification

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) – OFFQUAL

 

I know having the tickets is only half the battle and what employers want is good experience. I know its not going to be easy. I am worried about not finding work due to my experience after forking out 3 grand on the course.

 

I would just like peoples thoughts on this who have experience in the business, especially those starting in their early 30s.

 

The money is secondary to me and job satisfaction is more important to me now. The idea of maybe one day having my own business and this line of work which has so many aspects to it is exciting to me. I would love to know peoples feelings on being an arborist, does anyone hate the job? if so why? do you love it? what would you do differently if you started up again?

 

Look forward to hearing your thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

[Steve Bullman]

experience isn't everything.  What people want first and foremost is reliable hard working staff, that trumps experience....unless of course you are advertising yourself as a proficient climber or something.  Theres plenty of work out there at the moment, and generally speaking theres always work for the hard working.

 

Yes I think you're mad taking the paycut from 40k but I assume you've done your maths and its viable.

 

Its a hard job, and by the time you're in your 40's you'll probably start feeling the effects of it on your body.  If you're setting up your own business then all well and good, you can then employ the younger guys to do the climbing, leaving you to focus on building the business up.

[Steve Bullman]

And i'd add, Kingswood is a good choice for your training.

[AriesArborists]

43 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

experience isn't everything.  What people want first and foremost is reliable hard working staff, that trumps experience....unless of course you are advertising yourself as a proficient climber or something.  Theres plenty of work out there at the moment, and generally speaking theres always work for the hard working.

 

Yes I think you're mad taking the paycut from 40k but I assume you've done your maths and its viable.

 

Its a hard job, and by the time you're in your 40's you'll probably start feeling the effects of it on your body.  If you're setting up your own business then all well and good, you can then employ the younger guys to do the climbing, leaving you to focus on building the business up.

Thanks Steve

 

I am worried about earning a lot less but going to a job i hate 5 days a week and living for the weekends or that 2 week holiday abroad every year compared to maybe doing something i love and challenging me every day, keeping me fit being in nature just makes me think it will be worth it.

 

i presume the weather is the worst thing about the job. I am ambitious and i have always dreamt of being by own boss and having my own thing and i feel this could happen in this trade after a few years of experience and making the right connections.

 

do you enjoy what you do?

[Steve Bullman]

I did very much for a long time, but hung up my harness a couple of months ago.  I was a freelance climber, not sustainable long term which is why it’s  important to have a plan in place, such as building a business and letting others do the graft 

[AriesArborists]

8 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

I did very much for a long time, but hung up my harness a couple of months ago.  I was a freelance climber, not sustainable long term which is why it’s  important to have a plan in place, such as building a business and letting others do the graft 

How old are you steve?

 

i am quite fit but i do have dodgy knees now and again :0

 

my plan is to set up my business straight away while working with a firm to build experience.  I will do local domestic jobs for my company as a sole trader and hopefully can build from it that way, as my level of experience and knowledge gets better then hopefully i can build a stronger business for the future. Ive read start up costs can be massive though?

 

what are you doing now you are not climbing mate? 

 

Do you think with them tickets i will get from kingswood is a good starting place? Any other tickets you think will help me this early on or would that be a quite solid foundation to begin with?

[Steve Bullman]

Those tickets do pretty much cover everything, so yes more than adequate to be going on with.

A towing license is becoming more and more valuable these days, worth looking into.

 

i'm 42, climbed solid for 22 years.  Could probably do another 10 but I figured I would take the plunge while I was still in reasonably good shape.

Now i'm running Arbtalk full time, and developing and managing websites for arborists.  Also looking to expand on picus testing for decay in trees.

[AriesArborists]

Cheers mate

 

hope it all works out. I will be intouch when i start my business and look into setting my website up. Feel like all connections are for a reason to help eachother grow to our soul purpose. This sites perfect for it mate so keep it up.

 

still looking for more input if anyone has any advice or experience in beginning a new career in this business.

 

cheers

[JAG63]

I started at 55 though was an active rock climber. Did an intensive course but with the climbing and rigging tickets instead of chipper and stumpgrinder. Got a position with a large operator probably thanks to range of tickets, driving licences and proven track record but took massive pay cut I will never regain without starting building my own arb empire that would consign me back to an office  before long - no thanks. Enjoying every day and feeling healthier than I have for years, weather doesn't bother me, no regrets. 

[AriesArborists]

4 minutes ago, JAG63 said:

I started at 55 though was an active rock climber. Did an intensive course but with the climbing and rigging tickets instead of chipper and stumpgrinder. Got a position with a large operator probably thanks to range of tickets, driving licences and proven track record but took massive pay cut I will never regain without starting building my own arb empire that would consign me back to an office  before long - no thanks. Enjoying every day and feeling healthier than I have for years, weather doesn't bother me, no regrets. 

This is music to my ears mate.