Starting a new career

[Stubby]

7 hours ago, Peewit said:

I agree. A sprat to catch a mackerel approach never works. Once you've short-sold yourself it's very hard to level up afterwards. 

I've been a bricklayer for 35 and laying hedges for 43 years, so I spend six months of the year hedging and the other six months on the trowel. This spring I've been offered a biggish job building a large barn as a subbie on a day rate. I haven't worked for the contractor before but they're a family firm and I know the gaffer, his wife and their son well socially. Rather than negotiate a day in the pub beforehand when we're both an unknown quantity to each other, I'll start and work a week on trial and then agree a rate for me to rate continue. We can then assess each other. They can see my worth and I can see what kind of outfit I'm getting myself involved with. 

Are you a frog up man or a frog down man ? 

[Peewit]

1 hour ago, Stubby said:

Are you a frog up man or a frog down man ? 

Always frog up. The only time I'll lay frog down is on the top corbel courses of a chimney terminal because when the flaunching erodes with the weather the frogs could fill with water if they're laid uppermost and blow the bricks apart in a frost. 

[Tree monkey 1682]

On 31/03/2026 at 11:38, Jack Osborne said:

Hi all, 

 

I am looking to make a change in career, I’m currently in the military but will be out in November this year. So I’m basically just looking for a bit of advice/guidance on where to begin. 
 

I have found local courses (North Wales) that I could start with to become a competent ground worker that include chainsaw maintenance, cross cutting and felling up to 380mm. This would cost around £1200. 
Once I have completed those courses, would I be right in thinking that I would then be employable at around the £80-£100 a day mark? (Considering I don’t have any of my own PPE as yet)

Any help/advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Go to lbs training in wellington, hes ex forces and "gets" them . Worth the travel 

[raafbeard]

Just try some days as advised.. work out if it is for you.. 

[Ledburyjosh]

You'd want to be on no less than minimum wage as a employee. (£12.71 ph)

 

If someone offers you minimum wage as a subbie, your way worse off as out of that you need to cover holiday, sick days, PPE etc.

 

So whatever you do end up doing bear in mind minimum wage is set for employed people. A lot of tree work is self employed.

 

For reference and depending on how you do the maths you need £14.50-£15 per hour as a self employed person to cover 28 days  holiday and 4 days sick and £300 of PPE. 

 

If you start paying for courses buying saws on that level of money your not off to a good start.