Register of Tree Work Operatives

[jaime bray]

I am interested to know what it is that you all think is broken and how this list will fix whatever it is?

 

 

 

Well there is a lot wrong with this and many other industries but this industry is what you make of it. Having a gripe on here is fine if it makes you feel better but the only way you are going to help your own situation is to get off yer arse and sort it out for yourself.

 

I strongly recommend anyone who wishes to gripe about the industry to time the gripe the put the same amount of time into fixing whatever it is they were complaining about.

 

I would still like an answer from the group to that question of what's broke and how's this scheme going to fix it.

 

Thus far all I can see is another talking shop that's going to want a subscription, I hope I am wrong.

 

Whats broke? For starters lets consider the age old issue of arborists being like professional footballers but without the wage. You play/climb, you get old you can not keep up,lose your job, you have no where to go and all you have is a bag of tickets, but how do you prove or show your true worth to a company, the industry, or other employers with opportunities for supervisory staff, its hard to, so you seek employment else where in another industry.

 

Wow 30 years of on the tools skills gone out the window, never to be seen by an arborist again.

Construction industry does not lose experience in that way, and id rather climb a tree at 50 than dig footings all day, so why does arboriculture not recognise and appreciate time served experience.

 

Im sure that there are many other people reading this thread that could add to a list of what is wrong with arboriculture, if that were the case then maybe answers could be given to how and if the scheme could assist or rectify.

 

Thanks for comments:thumbup1:

[treequip]

It is interesting that the term 'needs' has been mentioned. When I was thinking about the idea of a grading scheme some 5 years ago I came to the conclusion that we all need to be recognised for the skills we have. I am not an academic and exams are a real struggle for me, that said I have managed to make it through several to now have a reasonable 'academic' CV but that does not in anyway reflect the level of 'experience' I have in the field. That said this is still and industry, at least at the practitioner level and also, but perhaps to a lesser degree at the professional level, (I use these terms loosely to differentiate those who do and those who talk about it) that respects experience over academic qualifications. The problem we have as practitioners is how we prove that experience and measure it. Even in the courts my practical experience carries as much weight as chartered status.

 

The more that I have helped tree businesses tackle the challenges of H&S compliance and third party accreditations over the past 10 years the more I realised that we really need some way of differentiating between the well qualified new entrant and the well qualified old hand. Equally we also need to find a way of recognising the 'soft' skills derived over the years such as customer liaison, supervision etc. Furthermore we needed to the attend to the motivational needs of practical arborists as they progress in the industry.

 

Hence the concept of a stepwise grading system that recognises specific task experience, time served and training/qualifications. Take this a step further we are a fragmented industry that struggles to be recognised professionally in many ways because we are an industry of individuals or micro businesses. Enter the concept of a national register of INDIVIDUAL operators that will at least help to recognise our skill levels as well as unify it under a single register (albeit that is perhaps like herding cats). We all suffer from the jobbing tree hacker but this will hopefully raise the bar and enable a more unified industry to promote itself more effectively.

 

Now here for me is the key, this is about meeting individual needs but in so doing meeting the needs of businesses, clients and other interested parties. Pie in the sky, perhaps but it is worth a try.....we just need industry backing a some money to roll it out.

 

I see the many posts about this topic and I know I have not answered all the questions but hopefully some. I will try to respond to other queries in a more concise manner.

 

 

 

How about the one I asked, how is the scheme going to be funded, what’s it going to cost and what’s the benefit to the individual?

[treequip]

 

Whats broke? For starters lets consider the age old issue of arborists being like professional footballers but without the wage. You play/climb, you get old you can not keep up,lose your job, you have no where to go and all you have is a bag of tickets, but how do you prove or show your true worth to a company, the industry, or other employers with opportunities for supervisory staff, its hard to, so you seek employment else where in another industry.

 

Wow 30 years of on the tools skills gone out the window, never to be seen by an arborist again.

Construction industry does not lose experience in that way, and id rather climb a tree at 50 than dig footings all day, so why does arboriculture not recognise and appreciate time served experience.

 

Im sure that there are many other people reading this thread that could add to a list of what is wrong with arboriculture, if that were the case then maybe answers could be given to how and if the scheme could assist or rectify.

 

Thanks for comments:thumbup1:

 

And how is the list going to change that, getting to old is simply a fact of life.

[jaime bray]

I'd like to think that this is a step in the right direction for us as a trade.

But how many out there have any real interest? Of all those involved in the trade, how many are members of trade organisations? How many attend the Trade shows? How many read the trade magazines? Dare I say it, how many have never heard or used Arbtalk? Look at the number of responses to this thread, hardly inspiring is it?

I can't see many having the interest to pay for registration, most people moan enough when something is free. I think you've got a long climb to the top with this one.

 

The climb to the top with this issue is one that graeme mcmahon would wince at, but as an industry I think that the right time and scheme will be found, so its a case of try try try again.

[Andy Collins]

I think Sir Edmund Hilary would wince at this climb Everest was a Sunday stroll in comparison.

[Gareth Dalzell]

Is this scheme going to be similar to say.... The construction industry scheme or the one we have in n.ireland where we have different coloured cards. Green for basic op. blue for experienced op, then gold for foreman/craftsman, platinum and then black.

 

At each level there is occupational assessment and interview along with qualification and ticket checking?

[jaime bray]

 

And how is the list going to change that, getting to old is simply a fact of life.

Would it be fair to say that within certain areas of the the industry some companies are growing? How many arbtalkers that have strived to get bigger and better companies running are now no longer in arbtalk because they are to busy establishing businesses that are resilient and effective. There has been an increase over the last ten years of arb companies that are beyond the one man band and a couple of subbies phase. Commercial sectors are requiring professional companies to carry out work. This professionalisation of the industry may asssit in helping out all and sundry if adopted.

 

But the people who were once one man bands are slowly getting bigger, opportunities for supervisory roles etc within them companies in 5,10,15 years will arise, if arboriculture continues to loose experience in the way it does in 15 years time, then clearly the industry and the companies operating within it will not have grown into something that is resilient and dynamic.

 

Im fortunate to have my own company, but id be gutted if my associates drop out due to no opportunities in the future.

 

Where do you see yourself in 25 years tree quip if you do not mind me asking?

[Gareth Dalzell]

I think Sir Edmund Hilary would wince at this climb Everest was a Sunday stroll in comparison.

 

Ah but didn't they all start with the first step.

[jaime bray]

I think Sir Edmund Hilary would wince at this climb Everest was a Sunday stroll in comparison.

 

Haha.... I have climbed everest......Not meaning to boast like!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not!!!!!!

[treequip]

Would it be fair to say that within certain areas of the the industry some companies are growing? How many arbtalkers that have strived to get bigger and better companies running are now no longer in arbtalk because they are to busy establishing businesses that are resilient and effective. There has been an increase over the last ten years of arb companies that are beyond the one man band and a couple of subbies phase. Commercial sectors are requiring professional companies to carry out work. This professionalisation of the industry may asssit in helping out all and sundry if adopted.

 

But the people who were once one man bands are slowly getting bigger, opportunities for supervisory roles etc within them companies in 5,10,15 years will arise, if arboriculture continues to loose experience in the way it does in 15 years time, then clearly the industry and the companies operating within it will not have grown into something that is resilient and dynamic.

 

Im fortunate to have my own company, but id be gutted if my associates drop out due to no opportunities in the future.

 

Where do you see yourself in 25 years tree quip if you do not mind me asking?

 

You didnt answer the question, how is this list going to stop people getting old and knackere.

 

I think you grossly over estimate the number of companies that are going to get big enough to make use of a list like this assuming of course that they do make use of it.

 

I am 47 now so another 25 years will see me retired an living on my boat in the carabean.

 

The other question that none of you seem to want to answer is HOW MUCH and WHAT BENEFIT??????