how to produce the best

[RobRainford]

A mixture of both. I'd have the tickets I have now but wouldn't be anywhere else without the knowledge from college

[Dave D]

as others have said, a mixture of both is probably ideal but mostly the practical experiance. however only if the quality of the experiance is good ie working with a good and knowledgable crew and varied work.

[kernowstu]

bring back yts 2years block release at dartington college devon,first year appox 13 weeks at college,rest on placement,second year appox 16 weeks at college and rest on placement

[Matt Butler]

cheeres for the replys,

 

the placement system sounds quite good, also like the apprentice idea, im definitley of the on the job school and this is based on my experience of the "tree surgeons" that the colleges produce.

[Mesterh]

1 and 2.

 

There are some people/crews that I wouldnt want to learn from.

[Tom2020]

Im in college and they dont make it real enough for you

 

Ive been out working for one day and learnt 2months worth in one day out with a tree surgeon

 

So its No.2

[Andy Collins]

I think that the best people I know in this trade all did some form of on the job training. The college-route people I know, on the whole, have an ideallistic approach to the job, misconceptions as to their true worth, a poor attitude to how much work is expected from them etc. I'd rather see trainees doing day release, 3 days a week on site, 2 days a week doing college work. And by college work, I mean studying the subject they are there for, not going off on mountain bike trips, kayaking, and other "team building" or "life experience" jaunts that take up much of a 2-year course.

There is no substitute for working with a mentor, but if this is tied in with a course it has to be the best of both worlds.

[pward]

thje thing with colleges is yes there not real industry they teach you the basics to get thew ur nptc stuff and they try to cram as much in as they can (well they did when i was there) its usful for the idents and can be a cheap way of getting ur licences and starting kit as a lot of us got grants for ppe, but industry experiance is always good, the colleges should make it clear that the course is a aid to give u knollege of trees its not what is expected of u in indusry, but on site experiance helps bring ur speed up

[butler]

I belive it has a lt to do with the trainee and there attitude towards learning work. A intellegent trainee that has taken the college route will realise that the workplace is a diffrent enviorment and adapt to suite ie work hard and fast!!!! Whilst a trainee that is having onsite training should realise that in work situation not everything is taught by the book and they shoule be aware of this.

[Frankie Lawrence]

This week ill have pretty much finished my apprentership and I think it is the way to go. Theres no point in repeating what has been said on thsi thread but it does have to be down to the trainee's how they want they're carrer to go, you can either do what college's do and have plenty of breaks and finish bang on 4 o clock or you can do the work route and have a whole day no break and finish at 7 because you need to keep kit up to scracth etc.

 

What works for some will not work for other