Hello - my first post - help reqd please

[mark_j]

Hello, love the website

 

My names Mark, im 25 and from burton on trent in the midlands.

 

I have been operating a chainsaw for around two years now, i have been felling small scale trees with family members( no experience of ariel work) and cutting and selling logs, i have no qualifications though, i would like to gain some experience and possibly qualifications.

 

Im not sure what to do though, tree surgery really interests me and im a really hard worker, i work four days on four days off so could offer a local company a couple of days a week so i could gain some proper experience. I cant afford at the minute to give up my full time job, regarding courses there is a local company to me called base its probably well known on here, i believe its on the edge of cannock chase. Would i be best starting there on some courses such as cs30 31 and then progress?

 

my family is ex farmers, we collect, restore and operate vintage tractors and implements including sawbenches. my web address with loads of pics and info if anyone is interested

 

http://fergusont20.googlepages.com

 

any local companies looking for some part time help??

 

 

Thanks Mark

[Mr Ed]

Welcome to Arbtalk Mark. Great website you have there - I love the old grey fergie's. looks like youve got a good handle on the hard work bit, to go further you'll need your basic chainsaw ticket. after that, its a matter of phoning round your local company's, see if anyone needs some part time help.

[Rebecca Harrison]

Hi Mark,

There are a number of courses out there ..I don't know your area but is there a college near to you that does the City and Guilds Arboriculture Certificate. Colleges often do these on a one day a week basis and although it may not give you the NPTC certificates and therefore license to carry out tree works it will teach you the basics of climbing and safe controlled felling aswell as tree biology, species id, pests and diseases etc. etc.

 

Good luck and welcome to the tree world!

[Yorkshireman]

Welcome Mark To the arb world & arb talk

 

Rebecca Welcome to arb talk

[Steve Bullman]

welcome mark. experience is the key, although you need your certificates too. personally if i was you i'd get on the phone to all your local companies, maybe post in the employment section of the forum. get out there with someone decent, and learn the job.

[skyhuck]

Hi Mark,

There are a number of courses out there ..I don't know your area but is there a college near to you that does the City and Guilds Arboriculture Certificate. Colleges often do these on a one day a week basis and although it may not give you the NPTC certificates and therefore license to carry out tree works it will teach you the basics of climbing and safe controlled felling aswell as tree biology, species id, pests and diseases etc. etc.

 

Good luck and welcome to the tree world!

 

I have my NPTC and feel it is a good idea to get them,but it is not a licence and to refer to it as such just causes confusion.You may need you NPTC to get insurance and many contracts,but it is not a legal requirment,no offence intended,but it really bugs me when people call it a licence.

[Rebecca Harrison]

I have my NPTC and feel it is a good idea to get them,but it is not a licence and to refer to it as such just causes confusion.You may need you NPTC to get insurance and many contracts,but it is not a legal requirment,no offence intended,but it really bugs me when people call it a licence.

 

Apologies ..your right ....wrong use of the word ...I used the word in a shorthand way, in that if he's looking for a job having the nptc is often a requirement.

[skyhuck]

Apologies ..your right ....wrong use of the word ...I used the word in a shorthand way, in that if he's looking for a job having the nptc is often a requirement.

 

Your right if you want get any were in this industry especially as an employee you will probably find you need NPTC,sorry to be a pedent ,but its one of my pet hates:wave:

[PeteB]

Fair plug that.

 

NPTC is no licence, it is an indication or qualification of a test of competence passed - it does make you safe or indeed, good at the job.

 

A family member has felled, dressed, tushed milled and sold more big sticks than many of us could shake a finger at, but, he has no qualifications. I've worked with people with qualifications who could not complete a job safely, competently or in a financially viable manner.

 

Many training courses are available (BASE included) from many different sources, try talking to local firms to get in as a brash dragger whilst you get ticketed up then try many forms of tree work for the overall experience. Rail, utilities, local authority, domestic, clear fell they are all different but don't necessarily suit every surgeon.

 

Best wishes.

[Charlieh]

where abouts near Burton? i have some contacts over that way, but i guess you wont want to travel to far for work.

 

shop around for training there are several centers close to you, that might do you a better deal.