It's nice to be wanted.....

[Treecreeper1961]

I probably need to get free lancers in 2-3 times a year.

Noted, cheers.

[WoodED]

depends what your doing,, theres always work on utilitys, ie raodside vegitation clearance and stuff like that if your willing to travel

[MATTMOSS]

This may be viewed as a waste of all your time and I apologise if that is the case but....

 

The purpose of this thread is to test the waters, in a purely hypothetical kind of way. So here is the question:

 

How much demand is there for a two man freelance climbing team in Southwest Wales, from Swansea to Aberystwyth?

Both climbers being motivated, hard working and keen to work to high arboricultural and safety standards.

Over sixteen years combined experience in arboriculture and woodland management, holding NPTC units 38,39 and 41, MEWP and ABC Technicians Certificate.

 

It would be really interesting to have some kind of idea of how much work there would be out there.

Consider this market research:001_smile:

 

Thanks for any input you can give.

 

To try and find work for a two man climbing team is just making things hard for yourself imo. Wouldnt it be a better option to try and set up a tree business between you? if you can get the work i suppose?

regards Matt

[Treecreeper1961]

depends what your doing,, theres always work on utilitys, ie raodside vegitation clearance and stuff like that if your willing to travel

Will bare it in mind.

[Treecreeper1961]

To try and find work for a two man climbing team is just making things hard for yourself imo. Wouldnt it be a better option to try and set up a tree business between you? if you can get the work i suppose?

regards Matt

 

Hi Matt,

I know what you mean, but is there really any difference?

 

Just testing the water really. In a round about low key kinda way.

[MATTMOSS]

I just think how many companies take two climbers on when they get busy, opposed to taking on one? Its not unheard of obviously but its a lot easier for one climber to get work with small businesses than two. I think you would be better working together doing your own work, things may be hard to start with and may take a long time but the potential would be great.

[arbogrunt]

'How do freelancers get around the need for an aerial rescuer? Or shouldn't I ask'

 

I've been freelancing for about 10 years..I always used to climb with aerial rescue cover...the last few years have seen lots of tree-firms employing unqualified staff and the AE cover is pretty sketchy at best and totally non-existant at worse...recession = cutting corners. Its up to freelance climbers to ensure their clients provide them with a CS38 qualified groundie....or take the work and hope they never need one

[White Noise]

freelance yes would be good but im finding in Cheshire,the work is few and far between,some weeks we are pulled out nad having extra climbers would b great but other days we r in the yard splitting logs.....

there seems to be no steady stream of work at present but if there was id b interested if you were in our reigion

 

SNAP

[White Noise]

I probably need to get free lancers in 2-3 times a year.

 

Used to be monthly for me but alas work has slowed

 

Although I have a really good guy who helps me out everytime I call . I really can't fault him .

[Treecreeper1961]

'How do freelancers get around the need for an aerial rescuer? Or shouldn't I ask'

 

I've been freelancing for about 10 years..I always used to climb with aerial rescue cover...the last few years have seen lots of tree-firms employing unqualified staff and the AE cover is pretty sketchy at best and totally non-existant at worse...recession = cutting corners. Its up to freelance climbers to ensure their clients provide them with a CS38 qualified groundie....or take the work and hope they never need one

 

Then there is always the question of whether the CS38 qualified groundie can actually climb proficiently enough to save your ass.

When it comes down to bread and butter there are always hard choices to make. The harder times become, the tougher the choices get but we should all do what we can to raise the standards within the industry.

I will happily climb without a rescuer and never expect to need one but accidents happen when we don't expect them! The reassurance of having someone you know can get to you, as well as share the work load, is something I have recently rediscovered after being without the luxury for a few years. We now also have two newly qualified aerial rescuers who can't climb.

Climbing work has always been a little unpredictable with the company I work for, the volume of work varies every year and at the moment you never really know whats round the corner.

I am not in a position to go freelance or start a business at the moment but I yearn for the freedom to make my own choices and work to standards I can be proud of. Don't get me wrong, I love the work and feel I am good at what I do but my eyes are wide open now.