Realistic chances of employment?

[Fellstoflats]

Hi all,

 

I've decided that it's time to call time on my farming career. I've done 10 years, mainly in livestock, predominantly sheep, across different systems, culminating on the (wife's) family farm.

 

But, for various reasons (money vs. hours, family politics etc) I've decided that enough is enough.

 

The question is, what do I do next? Qualifications wise, I've a degree in Agriculture, Conservation and Environmental Management and a rough terrain forklift ticket.

 

At the minute, I'm leaning towards arboriculture- I'm 33 now, so still got a bit of time to get qualifications and experience up. I'm not worried by the weather or hard work and would much rather be active than not.

 

With basic qualifications (CS30&31) what are my realistic chances of employment/earnings?

I'd be looking to add CS38,39&40 down the line.

Are there other tickets that would increase my chance of employment?

 

I'm South Oxfordshire based.

 

Any advice welcome!

[Oldfeller]

I'm 72, if I were 33 I would seriously consider moving to another country, some of the guys on here have done exactly that, they are more qualified to advise you.

I don't really care about being called a grumpy old bastard it's par for the course online,  but this country is finished, and all indications lead me to think it's gonna get worse.

good luck with whatever you choose.

[Mick Dempsey]

You’re not too old, but certainly not too young!

In your situation I’d start on utility (line clearance/railway) money is decent, steady work etc. 
Pretty sure there’s always positions with companies for that. 
@Stubby ‘s boy has started in similar circumstances. 
Perhaps Stubs can offer some insight. 

[Mike Hill]

You won't earn bugger all in Arb with your current tickets or indeed the tickets you plan to get. You just won't be fast enough. 

 

Consider doing a trade such as plumber/ sparky. By the time you are trained in those fields you could go start your own gig earning propper money. That might take 4 years,however if you started your arb career tomorrow, four years down the line you might be a competent climber but competing with 22 year olds who have the same experience as you.

 

Best of luck.

[MattyF]

1 hour ago, Mike Hill said:

You won't earn bugger all in Arb with your current tickets or indeed the tickets you plan to get. You just won't be fast enough. 

 

Consider doing a trade such as plumber/ sparky. By the time you are trained in those fields you could go start your own gig earning propper money. That might take 4 years,however if you started your arb career tomorrow, four years down the line you might be a competent climber but competing with 22 year olds who have the same experience as you.

 

Best of luck.

There is that Mike but also most 22 year olds haven’t got a days graft in them or think they are some super star climber wanting more money than you have on the job for wages.

I think if your the hard working farm type you will probably be sought after by any employer wanting stable reliable staff.

[Stubby]

2 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

You’re not too old, but certainly not too young!

In your situation I’d start on utility (line clearance/railway) money is decent, steady work etc. 
Pretty sure there’s always positions with companies for that. 
@Stubby ‘s boy has started in similar circumstances. 
Perhaps Stubs can offer some insight. 

He left this morning at 03:00 am to get to the yard to travel up to Charlton in London . A long walk through a tunnel , treading on god knows what , and stinking of dead and decaying animals to the walled cutting the had to clear . There was dead animals , with rats feeding off them glass bottles , needles , nappies , tampons , johnnys and general shyte all chucked over the wall from the houses above . A proper shit hole . Its mostly not like this obviously but this particular site was the pits .    

Edited 2 hours ago by Stubby

[green heart]

Could I suggest you make a few exploratory phone calls, after 4pm, to some of your local Arb/landscape contractors, to pop round or generally gauge the future demand for what your interested in doing? 

Sorry, I'm in Cheshire. 

 

From my own business perspective, the combination of a Farming background/grafting and a related degree with your maturity would easily outweigh your inexperience/qualifications issue. 

Farmers are generally savvy and resilient characters, in my experience. 

 

I would also agree with the points made by others, about considering a 'building trade' as being easier to start -and kinder to your body, tho..

 

Hope that helps some -and good luck with whatever path you choose to follow. 

 

[Mike Hill]

I bet you are right matty,but how much could our man expect per day ,on the books with no experience?

 

Diligent or not,he is going to.be playing second fiddle for years.

 

 

[GarethM]

Personally, farming background get into anything mechanical or electrical and even agricultural dealership.

 

Decent money upto 40/50k full time or somewhere in the middle of you want to keep up with the farming part time, it's effectively what I do with a bit of safety knowing I can always switch one to other if it does go south.

[MattyF]

1 hour ago, Mike Hill said:

I bet you are right matty,but how much could our man expect per day ,on the books with no experience?

 

Diligent or not,he is going to.be playing second fiddle for years.

 

 

Aye your right mate … you can make £200 a day a Tesco … I’m starting to question why I’m doing this , if there was a way out of the industry for me I’d probably take it.