NPTC refreshing

[Stubby]

On 21/02/2024 at 17:05, Mark Bolam said:

 

Have you got a link to a one-day course to refresh all my tickets please?

Mark if I went on a refresher course ( 1 day or 2 ) would it refresh my 71 year old bod making me 25 again ?  Neat trick if it would 👍

[Mark Bolam]

9 hours ago, 5thelement said:

They are not all 2 days and £500 though Mark, it depends on the course and the candidate numbers.
It depends on who you know and what you require. 
I would regularly turn up at your forestry cutting site and do a Felling +F refresher for up to 4 guys. 
£150 per man plus £30 registration fee, we are cutting your wood so that could be offset against your cost I.e less production down time.

Hardly breaking the bank for five clear years without having do anything else?

We would cover the main cuts, set up some dodgy scenarios, discuss the dangers, make a plan and act on it. 
If all goes well I would demonstrate some cuts they may not have seen, bring out and use some kit they may not be familiar with, powered winches and rattle wedges etc, no one leaves one of my courses learning nothing.

I think people need to start doing a bit of research before they book onto refresher courses.
Don’t book a course with the local Arb colleges if your a handcutter then complain that you didn’t learn anything, then complain about it on Arbtalk,this should be pretty obvious to you before hand.

 

Good to know.

Could climbing be assessed the same day though?

 

I’m not being pig headed, but I’ve been doing nothing but climbing and cutting trees for over 2 decades now.

I certainly haven’t forgotten anything, you learn new stuff all the time.

 

Anyone who thinks they know it all probably needs a LOT more training.

 

When I first passed all my NPTC’s it was a lifetime qualification.

Refreshers for ‘regular users’ smacks of goalpost moving and pocket lining to me.

 

Surely it’s the people who haven’t used their skills for a few years who would benefit most from refresher training?

 

My mate was going to book on a CS41 course to refresh all his tickets, but was then told that might not actually be the case?

 

It’s all a bit of a joke tbh, especially when a huge amount of arb work in this country is done by pricks with no tickets at all (or even basic knowledge of tree biology), and it’s never enforced anyway.

[Botty Cough]

8 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

 

Good to know.

Could climbing be assessed the same day though?

 

I’m not being pig headed, but I’ve been doing nothing but climbing and cutting trees for over 2 decades now.

I certainly haven’t forgotten anything, you learn new stuff all the time.

 

Anyone who thinks they know it all probably needs a LOT more training.

 

When I first passed all my NPTC’s it was a lifetime qualification.

Refreshers for ‘regular users’ smacks of goalpost moving and pocket lining to me.

 

Surely it’s the people who haven’t used their skills for a few years who would benefit most from refresher training?

 

My mate was going to book on a CS41 course to refresh all his tickets, but was then told that might not actually be the case?

 

It’s all a bit of a joke tbh, especially when a huge amount of arb work in this country is done by pricks with no tickets at all (or even basic knowledge of tree biology), and it’s never enforced anyway.

After also 20yrs + regularly working I don't think I'll bother paying again for any more tickets or refreshments.

Coffees are free with most customers but I don't mind paying for ice hockey tickets....

[5thelement]

1 hour ago, Mark Bolam said:

 

Good to know.

Could climbing be assessed the same day though?

 

I’m not being pig headed, but I’ve been doing nothing but climbing and cutting trees for over 2 decades now.

I certainly haven’t forgotten anything, you learn new stuff all the time.

 

Anyone who thinks they know it all probably needs a LOT more training.

 

When I first passed all my NPTC’s it was a lifetime qualification.

Refreshers for ‘regular users’ smacks of goalpost moving and pocket lining to me.

 

Surely it’s the people who haven’t used their skills for a few years who would benefit most from refresher training?

 

My mate was going to book on a CS41 course to refresh all his tickets, but was then told that might not actually be the case?

 

It’s all a bit of a joke tbh, especially when a huge amount of arb work in this country is done by pricks with no tickets at all (or even basic knowledge of tree biology), and it’s never enforced anyway.

You don’t HAVE to do any refreshers Mark and your NPTC tickets are still valid for life.

Usually refreshing the most advanced ticket covers you, (Check this out with Scott Fraser, he’s  not far from you and it’s not my specialism)

Is there any tickets you don’t have , rigging/SRWP that you could up skill to instead of refreshing tickets you already hold?

Your main issue as a sole trader is if anything does go wrong, and HSE get involved, if you can prove you have remained up to date and current then you can present a positive case in court, you can do your best and accidents can still happen.

Or you could think, I am not complying with TG1 (who is) in several areas anyway so f**k it, I’ll take my chances. 

I totally get what you’re saying RE uninsured/un ticketed clowns cutting trees all over the place, they have always been there and always will, all you can do is look after your own business. 
I can guarantee one thing though Mark. If you and a decent group of climbers do a refresher with decent Arb instructors in your area like Scott Fraser/Dave Daniels, or Terry Banyard who freelances at Ground up Training, you’ll get a lot out of it and have a great time doing it, it can also open you up for work that you are currently unable to tendor for. 👍

 

Edited February 22 by 5thelement

[Mark Bolam]

That’s good to know mate, we’ll have to sort something out.

I work with a few other owner/operators like me, we’re just trying to make a living and do the right thing.

 

It’s a fine line sometimes!

 

I’ve met Terry at shows a few times, he’s sound.

I’m mates with Ben Rose, so could easily get in contact.

 

We’ll sort something out, cheers for your input.

 

I wasn’t putting any type of training down, far from it.

As you say, you always learn something!

 

I remember having to do a chipper course and was really pissed off because I thought it was a load of bollocks.

How hard can it be, right?

 

Mark Pardoe did it, mainly sat in my mates garden, drinking tea, but I learnt more about chippers that day than I’d ever thought possible.

[5thelement]

1 minute ago, Mark Bolam said:

That’s good to know mate, we’ll have to sort something out.

I work with a few other owner/operators like me, we’re just trying to make a living and do the right thing.

 

It’s a fine line sometimes!

 

I’ve met Terry at shows a few times, he’s sound.

I’m mates with Ben Rose, so could easily get in contact.

 

We’ll sort something out, cheers for your input.

 

I wasn’t putting any type of training down, far from it.

As you say, you always learn something!

 

I remember having to to a chipper course and was really pissed off because I thought it was a load of bollocks.

How hard can it be, right?

 

Mark Pardoe did it, mainly sat in my mates garden, drinking tea, but I learnt more about chippers that day than I’d ever thought possible.

Mark Pardoe was very helpful to me when I first started down the instructor/assessor route, he’s a top bloke.

I was asked to tender to maintain the mountain bike tracks at Bedgebury Pinetum a good few years back.
Brushcutter/Trimmer and clearing saw ticket required, been using them 20 years, what is there to know right?

Did it with Chalky White, unbelievable knowledge, loads of techniques and kit I didn’t know was even on the market. 
Kept 4 guys in work in decent day rate for 6 weeks through the year on that one site, cost me about £600 all in. 

 

[Mark Bolam]

Chalky certainly knows his stuff, questionable dress sense mind!

 

Pardoe is a legend.

 

Haven’t seen him for a few years, please say hi if you get the chance.

[5thelement]

8 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Chalky certainly knows his stuff, questionable dress sense mind!

 

Pardoe is a legend.

 

Haven’t seen him for a few years, please say hi if you get the chance.

The last time I saw Mark he had sold up and was heading for New Zealand, he spends his time house sitting and travelling, I’ll say hello from you the next time I bump into him. 👍

[andy ellis]

imo the best thing to do is do the next course up etc and then that refresh's all your old courses,ive got 30 31 38 and 39 but when i do 41 it renews them all so if you space out your next courses you would be doing something different and keeping up to date etc

[Botty Cough]

On 25/02/2024 at 10:23, andy ellis said:

imo the best thing to do is do the next course up etc and then that refresh's all your old courses,ive got 30 31 38 and 39 but when i do 41 it renews them all so if you space out your next courses you would be doing something different and keeping up to date etc

 Yeah yeah so if you go do CS48 by your logic it renews all .😬