High standards club

[treequip]

The ISA Certified arborist programe is just such a scheme

[Shane]

How much effort is involved to get the AA accreditation. I've heard (but don't know) there are lots of forms to fill in and hoops to jump through, but it is claimed (by those in the club) that it opens doors to organisations who will only deal with accredited companies.

 

All well and good but how many customers ask about it - how many people would be impressed with the logo on the truck? DUNNO .

 

This is just an opinion based on my previous incarnation in IT at a large insurance company.

 

They decided to get ISO9000 accreditation and spent several million on it. We had to fill in forms to go to the bog (slight exaggeration) but every process had to be specified, followed and all activity monitored.

 

Within a year they went from many millions annual profit to collapsing and selling out to a famous Norfolk based monster which stripped all the assets.

 

It can be a good idea in theory, but in practice it makes the company very sluggish and unable to react to changes in circumstances. It could be good, it could be bad.

Be careful what you wish for.

[Theocus]

Actually becoming AA approved isnt as hard as people make out, and its not really a club as people speak of. If your already thinking how do we make this safer, could i do it a different way, is this best practice and also open to new ideas and constantly pushing to be the best you can be then it not a hard step to take. Yes there are forms to fill out but they are not extensive or that confusing. It just takes good time managment and a bit of preparation. AS for the tree work aspect of it, if you are already pruning and working to industry standards and expectations then it should be an easy step.

 

As for the stickers and showing it off the the domestic markets then it will only impress a few. I have explained to our clients what it means and they appreciate that it shows commitment to try and provide them with the best services and tree care that is expected from the industry. In larger companies this sometimes does not filter through but in smaller ones it does.

My experience of becoming AA has definetly allowed me to persue contracts and win even when i have been more expensive than non AA companies becvause of our mind set and commitment etc. We get good support from the AA, and upto date info literally every day.

For a small amount of effort and i agree not everyone is in the mind set to meet the standards and seriously test their company but the results from it are rewarding. I used to think it was a club and a fad but i get bored of just working and i need to push my business and myself.

I have never found it to be a restriction on adaptation to changes and would be the first to tell the AA if it was.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Actually becoming AA approved isnt as hard as people make out, and its not really a club as people speak of. If your already thinking how do we make this safer, could i do it a different way, is this best practice and also open to new ideas and constantly pushing to be the best you can be then it not a hard step to take. Yes there are forms to fill out but they are not extensive or that confusing. It just takes good time managment and a bit of preparation. AS for the tree work aspect of it, if you are already pruning and working to industry standards and expectations then it should be an easy step.

 

As for the stickers and showing it off the the domestic markets then it will only impress a few. I have explained to our clients what it means and they appreciate that it shows commitment to try and provide them with the best services and tree care that is expected from the industry. In larger companies this sometimes does not filter through but in smaller ones it does.

My experience of becoming AA has definetly allowed me to persue contracts and win even when i have been more expensive than non AA companies becvause of our mind set and commitment etc. We get good support from the AA, and upto date info literally every day.

For a small amount of effort and i agree not everyone is in the mind set to meet the standards and seriously test their company but the results from it are rewarding. I used to think it was a club and a fad but i get bored of just working and i need to push my business and myself.

I have never found it to be a restriction on adaptation to changes and would be the first to tell the AA if it was.

 

I reckon youll go a long way, right attitude, smart, I like the way you roll Theocus:thumbup1:

[Paul Cleaver]

how much does it cost to be on AA contractors list nowerdays?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

how much does it cost to be on AA contractors list nowerdays?

 

its cheap these days just under 500 quid i think for a two man band setup, bearing in mind your CHAS is included now, makes it good value

[Paul Cleaver]

its cheap these days just under 500 quid i think for a two man band setup, bearing in mind your CHAS is included now, makes it good value

 

wow that does suprise me:thumbup1:

[Theocus]

I reckon youll go a long way, right attitude, smart, I like the way you roll Theocus:thumbup1:

 

Thanks Tony, your compliment is much appreciated. As for the cost of becoming AA approved, we were recomended by our local tree officer and eventually got our assessment for free. The AA run this scheme constantly so if your already working to a high standard and on friendly terms with the local TO, get them to reccomend you and you never know.

[Shane]

Theocus That's interesting - we do loads of TPO work and get on well with all the TOs we deal with.

 

All work to BS3998, risk assessments, loler etc so maybe not much difference.

I am wondering if it might be worth investigating. Maybe time to remove the blinkers of an old cynic (I still cringe at what ISO9001 did to my old employers) and move with the times.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Theocus That's interesting - we do loads of TPO work and get on well with all the TOs we deal with.

 

All work to BS3998, risk assessments, loler etc so maybe not much difference.

I am wondering if it might be worth investigating. Maybe time to remove the blinkers of an old cynic (I still cringe at what ISO9001 did to my old employers) and move with the times.

 

The AA are all sound folk, and youll have no regrets