Arb approved

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

it really isn't hard, the standards are really what Arb businesses should be doing anyway,

 

Paul is approachable , for a lancastrian ! PM him or email

 

give it a go & attend the workshop, its free

 

Iain

 

Point 1 =

 

Point 2 = (the 'Roses')

 

Point 3 =

 

Thank you Iain

 

Paul

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

We recently passed, you could do it on your own but will need to put some serious office time in! Deffo go to one of Pauls Pre assessment days if your not sure what is involved. They do want some stuff that you probably have never even thought about....

 

We had an arb specific consultant in, I wanted someone to help push us onto the next level as like most arbs I have no business training.. Initially I wasn't that bothered with AAAC but his approach was to prepare us for AAAC status (and beyond ISO9001 etc..).. We also did pauls pre assessment day and so were pretty well prepared..

 

Get hold of the 22 page (for less then 5 employees) AAA standard and if you can fulfill the long list of requirements it's a breeze. I guess you can get it from the web site.

 

Ben, thank you for your contribution here, very valuable.

 

I would just like to clarify one point if I may. If your are a small business operating principally in the domestic sector then in combination with the stuff on the 'Help for Arborists' section of the website (see Help becoming an ARB Approved Contractor ) you should be able to get enough paperwork evidence together to achieve at least a provisional approval...provided all't'other stuff is good too of course.

 

If however you want to get it absolutely right at first attempt, and you have aspirations as a business to go onwards and upwards then you may wish to consider engaging a consultant to assist.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

But don't take the mickey out of his hair, as he gets upset.

 

"Mr Jenks"...that post's not even worth a retort!

 

I know yer just jealous

 

Cheers..

Paul

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Once a company has got the AA Status how are they monitored/policed to ensure they continue their methods that they proved on the day of the assessment?

 

Hi Stephen, hope you're well.

 

This is a very good point, thank you.

 

They are 'monitored' by the Arb Assoc on a regular basis via the reassessment process, every 12 months documentary (in most cases), and every 24 months by a revisit (in all cases.)

 

In terms of 'Policing', this is achieved via a range of different methods.

 

1. 'Self' policing / monitoring (and recording performance)

2. 'Client' policing / monitoring (and the complaints procedure)

3. 'Other tree surgeons' policing (sending me photo's and video clips)

 

As many have suggested / proposed, we do not currently undertake 'spot-checks' ourselves as we don't have the available resources and, to be quite honest, I not sure how effective it would be for various reasons. However, informally, and in really bad cases, Lead Assessors can/do intervene if they "happen" upon an ArbAC being non-compliant.

 

In conclusion, whilst I acknowledge this reply won't wholly satisfy your question it is better than previously when, prior to 2000, we didn't revisit at all, and 2000-2010 we revisited only once every five years.

 

Cheers fer now..

Paul

[Yorkshireman]

Point 1 =

 

Point 2 = (the 'Roses')

 

Point 3 =

 

Thank you Iain

 

Paul

 

 

HAHA

[Essex arborist]

I'm sure being Arb Approved is a great status to have and in many cases will make the business safer and more efficient. However, when you compare the cost of becoming and maintaining Arb Approval does it bring enough new business to meet or exceed the cost?

 

We're accredited with Safe Contractor and Trading Standards which works for us and doesn't come with a huge price tag which I've been lead to believe AA does.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

I'm sure being Arb Approved is a great status to have and in many cases will make the business safer and more efficient. However, when you compare the cost of becoming and maintaining Arb Approval does it bring enough new business to meet or exceed the cost?

 

We're accredited with Safe Contractor and Trading Standards which works for us and doesn't come with a huge price tag which I've been lead to believe AA does.

 

Hi there,

 

In part, I think you've answered your question with your opening statement about making the business more compliant, thereby protecting you as 'the employer', and your staff as employees, AND operating efficiently usually equates to cost savings too. However these, significant, benefits are often not easily measurable nor to cost.

 

SAFEcontractor is a useful Stage 1 compliance 'test', which you can now also access as an ArbAC, but it is not industry specific and it does not 'test' the on site stuff, the work quality aspects and the arb knowledge.

 

Trading Standards approval is a useful way of reassuring domestic clients you are trustworthy and reliable but it may change from county to county. Hence being part of an equivalent national scheme may be more beneficial ("watch this space." )

 

In terms of a 'huge price tag', circa £500 per year (+VAT ) for a small business makes it good value with the additional benefits / perks...including a 'hot-line' to me

 

Thanks for your questions...hope this reply helps.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Essex arborist]

Hi there,

 

In part, I think you've answered your question with your opening statement about making the business more compliant, thereby protecting you as 'the employer', and your staff as employees, AND operating efficiently usually equates to cost savings too. However these, significant, benefits are often not easily measurable nor to cost.

 

SAFEcontractor is a useful Stage 1 compliance 'test', which you can now also access as an ArbAC, but it is not industry specific and it does not 'test' the on site stuff, the work quality aspects and the arb knowledge.

 

Trading Standards approval is a useful way of reassuring domestic clients you are trustworthy and reliable but it may change from county to county. Hence being part of an equivalent national scheme may be more beneficial ("watch this space." )

 

In terms of a 'huge price tag', circa £500 per year (+VAT ) for a small business makes it good value with the additional benefits / perks...including a 'hot-line' to me

 

Thanks for your questions...hope this reply helps.

 

Cheers..

Paul

 

Thanks for your reply Paul.

 

Some valid points.

 

In terms of price other than £500 per year which is reasonable how much on average to become AA approved?

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Thanks for your reply Paul.

 

Some valid points.

 

In terms of price other than £500 per year which is reasonable how much on average to become AA approved?

 

Hi there, that's the "£60 million dollar question" (it doesn't cost anything like that though!)

 

I'm often asked that question and the honest answer is I don't know as there are so many variables to consider including:

1. What stage you are at now?

2. What size business you are?

3. Whether you intend to use a consultant?

4. What is your timescale?

5. What time can you commit to it?

 

I would suggest, as a small business, perhaps £2-3k including training to be 'evidentially' current...but remember the business should being doing this anyway.

 

The other question I'm commonly asked is "how long does it take?" And again it is very variable but anything from 6-18months I would suggest.

 

Sorry I can't give you definites here.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Robert_S]

After recently attending one of pauls AA workshop, i would say anyone that is interested in becoming AA approved would find it of massive benefit to get through the approval procedure.

 

Personally i chose not to go down the route as i felt it would not benefit my business but i applaud anyone that gets approved.

 

To the opening post, get yourself along to an AA workshop or pm paul for information, he is extremely helpful.

 

His choice in biscuits was less appealing