Littletree

I did some work for a local tree surgeon that have only been at it for just over 2.5 years pro and I must say his work up the trees was Excellent , you would of thought he had been at it for 10 years his cuts were perfect every time and he could tackle any tree and get a great result . I remember looking up at this huge tree that he had to dismantle part way and I just thought Wow. When he had finished it looked fab and really well done. So I think it depends person to person as to weather you would be able to sub your self out as a climber after a short time on the tools ,some would be able to do it and for others it could take a lot longer or years to get to that point where they were able to tackle any tree in any condition and any size and make a great job of it . For me as self employed but still new into it I only sub out as a groundy but for all my private work I tackle the smaller stuff all the stuff others would not want to touch the ivy covered the dead woods, thinnings small dismantles . I have greatest of fun and delight doing it as know its within my abilities ,get well paid for it and can make a really nice job of it for my customers. All the big Damita and complicated stuff I leave for the big boys that have been at it a long time as I still have a long way to go and lots to learn yet. I have really enjoyed subbing to different company's you get to meet lots of different people and see how different company's work and learn lots of new stuff and you are not tied in so if they or you are not happy with each other you can just move on as there is no notice to work though. Good luck with your self employment its a great way to work . Littltree:thumbup:

Hi there Yes you will get nervous with every new company or new customer you go to work for weather it be for climbing or grounding as a subby as you want to live up to there expiations of you and do an excellent job for them and hope they are nice to work for and the other lads expatations etc this will never go away as its normal for any new place you go to work at . The best way to beat to deal with this is be Very honest with the person you are going to work for . I always lay it on the table what I can and cannot do for them and what I have and not have done before. I always spend a bit of time with them making sure they know my cans and cannots before agreeing to the job. . never tell them that you have done more then you have this way you will not have to worry and you can concentrate on just doing a great job and have great fun along the way too . All the best and Good luck with going self employed Littltree:thumbup:

Hi there Good luck some tips for you to help along the way. The work is out there you just need to go and get it . I find leaflet drops do work but I go out on my push bike so i can eye up the houses and look for the ones that look as though they need work doing ,get your cards in all the local shops, cards in the tea houses , do a stand at your local car boot sell your old sufff and have a couple of thousand cards at the ready for them as they pass or as you get chatting buying your stuff, cards in your local pubs .I use post card size it makes them stand out with photos on of me climbing . all your local notice boards get cards in them . your local doctors I have had a 2 day job out of my cards being there .there is so many ways to advertise that don't cost to much money . All my customers that I have done work for I give a big stack of cards and get them to pass them all round to there friends so i get new work that way . If you are in any sports or social groups on a group email then again a whole set of people that have gardens and trees that could need work doing on them . every person you communicate to in a day is anoter potential customer with a tree/garden I find the winner for me is when I do every job I make sure that the customer is not just happy and OK with it but I go the extra mile to make sure the job is perfect and I make the job site look 100 better then before I was there so they look at it and the extra bits i have done and they go Wow this gets me repeat customers and they tell there friends and on it goes. Local paper I find does not work for me Good luck hope these tips help you a long the way All the best Littltree:thumbup:

HI there you are doing the right thing to stick to your guns and don't do the trees with TPOs on them unless you have seen the paper work . The tree officer would of been out to visit and agree what the company was aloud or not aloud to do .. Your boss seems very bad if he is trying to get you to do these things . Try and find another job or consider going self employed . It was the best thing i ever did . If you are a good climber you will find it not difficult to do sub contract work and work for a better boss . if you can go self employed and advertise your services you will be on a winner. All the best Littltree:biggrin:

Well for my pennis worth It looks all ,in order to me they rent the bit for land from you so they can put there stuff on it . yes its your bit of land and you can choose your customers. but from looking at the pics I cant see noting much wrong with it . but thats only my thoughts . Another way to make more money and keep it tidy would be to buy a couple of containers and then then rent them out to individuals that way all the mess stays in the containers and you can get a good rate per week for them,just a thought. All the best Littletree:thumbup:

Hi there it depends what sort of job you want to get like with most things even with the degree you may have to start near the bottom and work your way up to get exp . If its a job in Arb working on the tools you want then you will need to do your tickets then work your way through doing ground work learning and gaining exp on the chippers chainsaws stump grinders looking after the climbers and managing the traffic putting out the signs cutting, dragging,clearing up and getting lovely and dirty:thumbup: your nc/nd arb will help you get into a company but the learning process will be the same . The sad thing is most don't walk out of uni into a good job straight away sometimes that can happen but for most the degree is the building block the foundation knowledge for your chosen path and it will help you get your first footing over the threshold into a company. Lots of luck with your chosen path Littletree:thumbup:

Well done lad thats just excellent news really pleased for you. I know the feeling when i passed mine its the best ever. Enjoy and Enjoy Littletree:thumbup::thumbup:

I think my courses was round the 620 mark for 30/31 and 38 was a week including assessment was 600 and 39 was around the 350 mark . The courses can very in price any were from 500 to 700 it depends on the provider even collages down in the south west are the same price as the private providers some places up and down the country can be a bit cheaper. If you can get funding you will be very lucky and the places will be very limited and it will take ages . I think if you are long term unemployed you maybe get some help . Most company's do like see the NPTC certs for anything with using chainsaws climbing ect. Good luck Littletree:thumbup:

Yep I have had a few nests in the gardens I have been working in . I nearly nelt on one nest by a tree . another in a hole in the grass. another in a tiny hole in a drive way I was clearing . another one up a tree I was climbing but I think it was empty as could not hear any bussing and no activity . There does seem quite a few this year . Littltree:thumbdown:

Hi there with a little planning Tea is never a problem when working up on ropes put a carabina on a Thermos mug or any other cup with secure lid and handles make sure the groundy has the mug at the ready for when the customer offers the tea then when it all done just attach the mug onto the rope and up she comes job done. Littltree:thumbup:

Hi Jon I am really sorry to here about your dog its really hard when there time comes. I really hope things look up soon ,this might sound hard as its so soon but really really consider getting another dog it will never replace the one lost but it will make it easier to bare and it will bring joy back into your life again with a new life coming to live in your household a pup needs lots of love and attention so it would be a big distraction to your sad loss. I really feel for you and wish you all the best . I must pop over to say hi sometime as I think you are live really close to me in Priddy. ? Littletree

HI there Vanish is your only hope but as I also found, keeping Hi Viz clean is a loosing game give up on this one unless you are repaired to go white color In my personal experience The only people that have lovey shiny hi viz are the ones that are in the office and pop out to view the work being done from up above they tend to walk up and down and doing very little other then clip board and lip service work there hands are soft and there hard hats are scratch and mud free . I remember one day going into the depo after finishing a day on the roadside it had been heavy rain all day long . I was stopped by once nice chap in the most dazzling hi vis he took me to one side and said you just cannot walk round in your hi viz looking like this as its not hi viz anymore I did look in a really sorry state dripping from head to toe in tree slime and chippings my hi viz top and legs as black as Coal. so asked him to lend me his nice jacket as by then was shivering cold and wet thought.. He smiled kindly and sent me on my way but he was not going to part with his prize possession. All the best Littltree

HI there in some country's you do have to go up and back down again without a belay line but in the UK we go up and the clock stops when hit the button at the top and then we are lowered off to keep it safe for all . Cool thanks Littltree:thumbup:

HI Guys thanks for replies glad you liked it . I did it in 18.66 seconds not my best time as was running at around the 17s for part of the weekend but was quite happy with it anyway for my finishing run . I am still quite new to the sport my fist comp ever was last year at Newbury I went to try it out and fell in love with it from the start . I just had a feeling I was going to do OK at it as really enjoy using spikes for small tree dismantles and of course just love the climbing side in Arb. I am quite new in to the Arb seen as I was a full time carer for years caring for my mum and before that working as a carer in elderly care so it has been a complete change of direction coming into Arb for me . but it the best thing I ever did I now have the best job in the world ,make a better living and get to run up poles all round the country for the summer months. Love it Thanks to Everyone Littltree:thumbup:

Hi all For anyone that missed the show and wants to see my winning run up the pole here is my link below. Enjoy Littltree:thumbup: View My Video

Good luck with what ever you decide to do I can understand how you feel . I would feel cheated too. Let us all know what happens when he sees the vid it will be intersting to find out his reaction to it . All the best Littltree

HI I really wish you the best of luck what ever happened to you . going self employed is a great way forward its the best thing I ever did . so Far its been fun and more fun all the way I put lots of hard work into it and it works go for it if you really want to do it and prepared to put the work in behind it you will reap the rewards big time . Good luck Littltree:thumbup:

Hi there Its a real shame someone that works for you might want to steal from you I think before you for the neck you . I think you need take a few steps back and get your facts together in a calm way double check that the other things are really missing . sometimes we can misplace things and find them a while later . I know the inside of Arb trucks look like with all the lads and small space everything always gets everywhere and any were all sorts of stuff goes missing and even lands on different trucks ,and in crazy places in each others climbing bags so really go though everything and make sure they are missing even then if you did not see them go you cannot put complete blame on him unless he admits to it . If he works for you and is good then a truck load of logs every now and then should be fee for him I would never make a charge to a lad that worked for me a builders sack thats tight. even if I had a splitting business I would be generous to a person working for me and making me money. But having said that I always like people to be completely honest with me so if you ask him how much he took and he lies then you can say to him that you are disappointed with him not to let it happen again . When I work for anyone I am always open with them if something has happened or I think I have done something wrong I fess up straight away even if it could get me into trouble so then theres nothing to have to try and hide or feel bad about so I would expect openness with someone that works for me in the same manor. If on the other hand you do find your fears are confirmed and the lad is taking from you then he must go you will find someone else that will play the game fair and do a good job for you . If you are good to your lads then most of the time they will be good with you too. All the best Littltree:001_smile:

Hi there ProTreck socks they are the best sox I have ever had they are great you can get them on Ebay they come in Mens and ladies . They where well and are warm and comfy. around 11 quid a pair but money well spent Littltree:thumbup:

Hi Jonty Go for it you are not to old I am not far off 40 and female and love every minute of it .I give chaps that are in there 20s a real run for there money . Some days you might feel 40 after you have finished and you are hurting like hell and fall out of your van when you role back into your drive way after your day but you know you have earned your money and had fun along the way . its the best fun you will ever have do CS38/39 as well then you will really start having fun . it will keep you fit for years to come and save you all your gym fees . Since starting in Arb and Pole climbing the gym ticket went out the window I get my workout every day either on the ground or up in the trees. Every day i get to see a different garden and trees with different stuff to do O how much fun it is . Today It was 2 little orchards overgrown for 7 years nothing done to it, trees all mixed in everything you could not see the trees at all . my job was to restore it to its former glory and fix all the trees . This beats working in some shop or office any day Go for it life starts At 40 it will be the best years in your life All the best Littltee:thumbup:

HI Odd bird I am not sure how the apprenticeship scheme works re pay I have a feeling they can pay less i thinks the government is involved with it and the employer and they get some form of concession for taking you on but you would need to check this out. there is a min wage of around 5.80 and hour if your over 21 years old and work on the books for a company .10k is just on the borders of a min wage. From my own exp with company's down in the south west the wages for a groundy without any tickets usually starts at around 55 per day and with CS30/31/38/39 then your are looking for a groundy from 60 to 75 per day . and for the climbing side for a new climber or improver then its around 70 per day . For the climbing side it all goes on how good you become, your performance how much money you can make the company and how good you make the trees look. if you become really really good you can earn up to 100 a day on the books and as self employed with equipment quite a bit more as you set set your charges or day rates All the best Littltree:thumbup:

Hi Odd Bird and welcome to the forum. Arb for women is excellent Women that decided to take up Arb usually really really want to do in the first place it so they go along way as they will work really hard and give it 100% There are differences between men and women but this does not stop us doing anything the chaps do we may sometimes need to do it in a different ways to the chaps to achieve the same results . I want to encourage more and more women to come into Arb its a lovely profession . Its the best thing I ever took up and I have never looked back since the day i started down this road . I now have the best job in the world . I find being female really helps me get even more customers I use it to my advantage as a selling point as I get allot of women ringing up as they feel sometimes happier with another female doing the work and they are inspired and pleasantly surprised by a female doing this work and I can involve them more in the shape of what they want for there trees and gardens. . If you decided to do it it will help if you can get your basic tickets CS30/31 then if you want to climb then CS38/39 once you have these it becomes easier to get in with company's . Some company's will take you on a train you from scratch but it will depend on your age . I am not far off 40 so training has not been easy to come by as they tend to take on the younger persons to train them from scratch . when you get these tickets you will get plenty of sub work as a groundy or full time work with a bigger company to build up your skills ,you will get to use the big chippers all the tools and do stump grinding traffic management. you will do commercial and domestic jobs and will have a great time in the process. 99% of the time you will be working with lads in a team of 3 on a truck .most of the lads I have worked with are great fun and there is no problem with you being a girl if you are prepaid to work hard you will get well respected for it. . Like in any job you will get the odd one or 2 that may try to bully you but just hold your own and don't put up with it even if they are twice the size of you stand your ground . Good luck Girl It will be the best choice you ever make . Ps I am looking for more girls to get into the pole climbing and join the circuit if you are interested just let me know and you can come and have a try some of the next years shows. Littltree:thumbup:

Hi got my new Stihl long reach hedge trimmer at the show and it arrived yesterday big thanks to Justin . Just tried it out for its first time today on a job i was on today had to cut several tall beach hedges it was excellent really good bit of kit makes my hedge trimming a brezze . Wicked Thanks again Justin Littltree:thumbup:

Poor lad thats pritty nasty lets hope he gets better soon lucky it was not his eyes . get well soon . Littltree

O Wicked that will be so cool if there is some extra poles to climb Bring them on the more the merrier as soon as you have some dates let me know and I will add them to the sticky. Thanks Littltree:thumbup: