shaw

Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor based in Southampton/Portsmouth area requires qualified and experienced Arborists. Excellent rates of pay depending on experience and ability. CS40/41 and trailer ticket advantageous. Must have good communication skills. Please contact Martin on 08450 947 957.

Sub-contract or permanent. Immediate start required. Must have CS30,31,38 & 39, current first aid certificate, and CSCS. Utility Arb qualifications preferred. Excellent rates of pay. Please email [email protected]

Experienced climber required by Hampshire based AA Approved Contractor. Excellent rates of pay. Please apply to : [email protected] or call 07980 798079

I urgently require a very good climber for a couple of days this week. May lead to ongoing sub-contract work. Please call me to discuss - 07980 798079

Experienced Climber required by local Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor. We are currently seeking applications from individuals who are team players with the enthusiasm, drive and ability to apply high professional and technical standards in a thriving, friendly and helpful company. Must have NPTC Units CS30, CS31, CS38 CS39. (CS40 & CS41 an advantage). All other NPTC Units and industry-relevant qualifications also advantageous. In return, we offer a very attractive salary (up to £26k), company vehicle, 28 days holiday and a friendly working environment together with good personal and career development opportunities. Please apply to [email protected]

Experienced Climber required by local Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor. We are currently seeking applications from individuals who are team players with the enthusiasm, drive and ability to apply high professional and technical standards in a thriving, friendly and helpful company. Must have NPTC Units CS30, CS31, CS38 CS39. (CS40 & CS41 an advantage). All other NPTC Units and industry-relevant qualifications also advantageous. In return, we offer a very attractive salary, company vehicle and a friendly working environment together with good personal and career development opportunities. Please apply to [email protected]

I've just switched my PL and EL to NFU after years with Lycetts. They may take a little more time to respond/deal with things, but have always paid a very fair price without quibble. Lycetts were, in my opinion, terrible. They did not act in my best interest on claims and they kept putting up my premiums - until I threatened to leave, when they back-tracked (I'm not the only one apparently). The NFU may be a bit archaic, and you may have to chase them a couple of times, but I've found them honest, trustworthy and act in my best interest.

I am an AAAC. I agree that AAAC is not elitist, but it's plain to see from this forum that it is SEEN to be that way - and that's what needs to change. The best way to do this is for a large percentage of contractors to have it. There is nothing than I would like more, than for most companies to be AAACs - that's not elitist.

It may be self perpetuating - but not fast enough. The scheme has been in existence for many years, and yet is still seen as elitist - surely that's not a good thing? If the insurers were made aware of their ability to lead this change this self-perpetuation would be speeded up immensely. I fully understand that TOs don't want to lose the relationships they have with non ACs, but by encouraging them, and giving them a goal/deadline to work towards, these relationships need not be jeopardised. Regarding the assessment fee / annual subs, could these be means tested - ie different bands depending on turnover / number of employees, etc?

Hi Paul Ok - so we can't have it endorsed, and it will have to remain voluntary - thanks for that info. If the scheme is to survive and grow, it needs many more ACs. Is it not because there are so few that it's seen as an elitist club? Once it becomes more the 'norm', it will be seen as more of a credible standard. I totally agree that LAs need to police their contractors, especially with regard to the standard of work, but in reality, how many TOs are totally up to speed with current H&S standards/requirements. I believe that in order to get more companies wanting to be ACs it needs to be more financially appealing, and unless the AA can get LAs on board, my fear is this aint gonna happen. The AAAC scheme has the potential to improve the industry immensely, but only once it has the numbers. Sorry - just re-read this, and it sounds like a bit of a rant - it's not - I'm wholly behind the AAAC scheme, and feel very passionately that it should not fail or be left behind by other (non-arb-industry) schemes. And it's late!

Tree Depts are stretched enough anyway without them having to vet & police their contractors - surely it'd be easier for all of them (and us) if this was done for them. Isn't that why more and more LAs are turning to companies like Exor and accreditations like CHAS - to take that task and responsibility off their hands? The only difference with the AA is that it's specific to our industry, and can therefore more accurately deal with us. I know it is a bit of an added cost, but if all professional companies were doing it, they would be the only ones being used, and could therefore absorb it into their pricing. That is the point that it would start to weed out the unprofessional companies - and after all - isn't that what we all want?? Paul - what would it take for the HSE to 'endorse' the scheme?

Are we not doing this for the good of the industry, both in terms of quality AND safety? Isn't it better that the insurers are made aware of their ability to lead this change by pro-actively requesting the LAs to use AAACs? Surely this is better than them re-actively doing it after an incident involving a contractor who had not been properly vetted? I'm sure they would rather have their arm forced before a substantial claim! With regard to the cost - I totally agree that savings should be made on assessments (less assessors, etc), but also strongly believe that if a company is fulfilling it's obligations, there should be little other costs involved.

Surely the best way for the AAAC scheme to become well known is for lots of companies to have it? The way I see it is this - A vast amount of contractors want LA work (not everso profitable, but constant). Surely if all LAs insisted on AAAC, their local contractors would all be working towards it pretty sharpish. I know that lots of LAs say that they don't have any/many/enough local AAACs to be able to do this, but if they were to give their contractors a deadline, surely this would change? Could the AA not put more effort into lobbying LAs and their insurers? I really think we should be getting away from LAs having their own list of 'approved contractors' that showed them their insurance certificate a couple of years ago!

Leading Arb. Assoc. Approved Contractor requires an experienced Climber. We are currently seeking applications from individuals who are team players with the enthusiasm, drive and ability to apply high professional and technical standards in a thriving commercially driven, friendly and helpful business. Must have NPTC Units CS30, CS31, CS38 CS39. CS40 &/or CS41 preferable. All other NPTC Units and industry-relevant qualifications advantageous. In return, we offer an attractive salary, a friendly working environment together with good personal and career development opportunities. Please apply to [email protected]