Starting out

[kylenichol96]

Hello hello hello, 

 

Looking for some information/advice. 

 

I am currently 29 and a lorry driver. However I am looking to go down a different career path ideally in the arbourist/tree surgery sector.

 

I'm looking for a few questions answered to help me.

 

What is the best route to take to become fully qualified? 

 

How long does it take to become qualified? 

 

What are the average wages? 

 

What advice would you give to anyone planning on starting out? 

 

Thanks

[woody paul]

Your best option maybe to get with a big company running large lorries, which you already know about. Then get plant tickets and groundy ones. And see how it works out. 

[rapalaman]

Try offering to do a couple of trial days for free to see how you like it first. We all started off dragging brash and I’ll still muck in to clear up as will my main climber. 
As woody says above too 👍

[krummholz]

In terms of being "fully qualified", there's not really a standard recognized qualification for Arborists in the UK (unlike ISA certified in the USA, or the European Tree Worker qualification).

 

You have your certificates of competence from NPTC/LANTRA for using various bits of equipment, felling, tree climbing etc. You'll need these to do the practical day-to-day work - employers need you to have them to meet legal requirements and for insurance, so the tickets make you more employable. Having said that, having the ticket only demonstrates a base level of competence and there's a lot to learn, so I'd stagger getting your tickets over the first 3 or 4 years as you progress.

 

You might also consider a technical qualification like a level 2 Certificate - it'll give you a good foundation for progression if you want to be a team lead/run your own show/move off the tools further down the line.

 

Your HGV license will definitely improve your immediate employability, as others have said find a decent local firm running any trucks over 3.5t and it's a foot in the door.

 

I won't attempt to open the wages can of worms, but it varies greatly depending on the area you're in, and the pay isn't great for the risk and skill involved, but if you click with the work and the right team it's enough, and it's challenging, fulfilling work.

 

Level 2 Certificate Arboriculture On-line | Myerscough College

WWW.MYERSCOUGH.AC.UK

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Level 2 Certificate Arboriculture On-line