Packing it in.

[Guest Gimlet]

8 minutes ago, Bolt said:

Whatever you do, for Christ’s sake don’t get rid of your hand tools.

They've been in the back of the truck since March. It leaks so probably rusty by now. 

[openspaceman]

Sorry to hear that @Gimlet I have enjoyed your posts and 50 isn't past it even if you get no job offers. I faced similar loss of work when the sawmills and pulp mills I supplied shut and I staggered on assisting others till I eventually took a zero hour, gig economy, employment. A disagreement with the company owner ended that after 7 miserable years and it's nearly seven years after that that I've slowed down so much that lack of work doesn't bother me.

 

You are a biker too I think so don't give that up.

[MattyF]

Did you ever try the woodland trust for hedge laying ? They where desperate for them around Gateshead a few years back on projects 

[JAG63]

Settle shouldn't be too far from you, try Lowe Maintenance I found them really helpful.

 

Lowe Maintenance | Chainsaw Training & Forestry Courses UK

LOWE-MAINTENANCE.CO.UK

---

Lowe Maintenance provide chainsaw, machinery training, forestry courses and LOLER checks in North Yorkshire. City and Guilds accredited.

 

[devon TWiG]

7 hours ago, Gimlet said:

Decided to pack in the hedge laying. Got no work booked in for this winter. The only enquiries I've had are for hedge planting at grant funding rates. Can't be bothered with that. I'd rather lay bricks. 

 

Tried to book in for a couple of chainsaw courses as well. It's taken eight months for them to get back to me with a place and then they only gave me three days notice of the date which is hopeless. And despite asking repeatedly, I've still no idea what the fees are.

 

Tried to get tree-related work up here but no one even replies. Once you're over fifty you're effectively dead as far as employers are concerned and all applications and work enquiries just go in the bin.

 

It's all more trouble than its worth. So I'm not going to renew my NHLS contractor's ad and put the truck up for sale. Back to the building trade. I hate it with a passion but as least I can earn a proper living from it.

sadly hedge laying ( especially to a very high standard ) is one of those things that many will applaud and claim to support but the reality is that very few are willing to pay to have it done ....quite a few other trades etc in that category sadly esp in rural crafts ....

[eggsarascal]

8 hours ago, Gimlet said:

Decided to pack in the hedge laying. Got no work booked in for this winter. The only enquiries I've had are for hedge planting at grant funding rates. Can't be bothered with that. I'd rather lay bricks. 

 

Tried to book in for a couple of chainsaw courses as well. It's taken eight months for them to get back to me with a place and then they only gave me three days notice of the date which is hopeless. And despite asking repeatedly, I've still no idea what the fees are.

 

Tried to get tree-related work up here but no one even replies. Once you're over fifty you're effectively dead as far as employers are concerned and all applications and work enquiries just go in the bin.

 

It's all more trouble than its worth. So I'm not going to renew my NHLS contractor's ad and put the truck up for sale. Back to the building trade. I hate it with a passion but as least I can earn a proper living from it.

If the rates for brickies is similar to around here you’ll soon get back to enjoying it, I was on a site in Manchester recently and 2-1 gangs are having it away.

[Guest Gimlet]

1 hour ago, eggsarascal said:

If the rates for brickies is similar to around here you’ll soon get back to enjoying it, I was on a site in Manchester recently and 2-1 gangs are having it away.

I'm a solo brickie and I'm struggling to get a start. They want two and ones. Just scratching on with private work now on a far lower rate than I was on down south, but I'm never going back down there. 

[eggsarascal]

12 minutes ago, Gimlet said:

I'm a solo brickie and I'm struggling to get a start. They want two and ones. Just scratching on with private work now on a far lower rate than I was on down south, but I'm never going back down there. 

I’m surprised that bigger firms aren’t taking on solos to make up gangs. Good luck whatever you do.

[monkeybusiness]

Any pics of your hedges?

[Guest Gimlet]

1 hour ago, monkeybusiness said:

Any pics of your hedges?

Shed loads in the hedge laying pics thread.