AA Teccie (Paul)

"M'lod"...apparently there are tentative proposals to deliver this course "later in the year" in Scotland, probably in conjunction with the Scottish Branch. I will endeavour to keep you posted but you may wish to periodically check the website at Training - Arboricultural Association too. Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, Just a 'heads up' at this stage, with more detail to follow, to inform you that the Arbor. Assoc. have been approved as a Trustmark 'Scheme Operator' for the tree surgery sector/'trade'. (see TrustMark - tradesmen, operating to Government endorsed standards for further info.) Hence this means that in future you can go through ONE assessment/audit process with me and achieve THREE separate accreditations, i.e. ARB Approved + CHAS (for your commercial clients) + Trustmark (for your domestic clients.) Hoping this to be of interest and perhaps it provides that opportunity you are looking for as a business to "stand out from the crowd" (see, I'm a marketing expert too ) Thanks all n will update further soon. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Adam, I think I recall the conversation. Coincidentally I've had another request recently but the focus at the moment is on the businesses and how we can better support them rather than the individual. You may be aware of 'Register of Tree Work Operatives' industry project ('R2'), which we are very involved with, and this is aimed solely at the individual working upto to 'Master Tree Worker' status...if they wish to of course (see Register of Tree Work Operatives - R2 ) Sorry I'm unable to help further at this time. Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, Nothing planned at the moment, as far as I am aware, however I will pass on your request to my colleague Simon who manages the Association's training and events programme. It might be we can do something in conjunction with the Scottish Branch of the Arb Assoc. who are generally better connected at the local level than we are. Cheers for now.. Paul

Hi all, If anyone would like to join me in Cornwall on Tues. 13th May (FoC of course...I'm cheap ) please let Polly know (email [email protected]) The venue is 'Kingsley Village', Penhale (just off A30.) Thanks all n hope to see you there Paul

Hi all, If you're interested in keeping your PTI training current you may wish to attend this 'new' one-day update workshop delivered by Guy Watson. See Professional Tree Inspection Refresher for further info. Cost is: AA member = £150 (+VAT) None AA Member = £180 (+VAT) There are 'other' dates and venues later in the year (see Training - Arboricultural Association ) Thanks all.. Paul

Hi Stephen, Forgive me if I' guessing wrongly here but are you referring to the 'birds nests' looking structures on the branches? If so I believe this is SB 'Witches Broom' (Taphrina betuli...or similar.) If not, someone far better educated will be along soon. Cheers.. Paul

Robert, 'thank you'...I can't understand why you didn't enjoy those Highland Shortbreads all the way from Bristol Airport tho I hope you are well and, maybe, to see you sometime in the future. Cheers Paul

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

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

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

"Mr Jenks"...that post's not even worth a retort! I know yer just jealous Cheers.. Paul

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

Point 1 = Point 2 = (the 'Roses') Point 3 = Thank you Iain Paul

Thank you Andrew and hopefully some of the many recent 'new' approvals will now follow on to mention their experiences. Much appreciated Paul

The industries best kept secret it would appear (haha)...c'mon guys give some feedback here as it wouldn't be helpful for me to do so. BUT it's not hard, you probably don't need to know too much more than you do already...AND we'll help you where it's needed. Do try to get to the workshops to get a better insight and more understanding of the requirements. Next one is Leic. on 7th May and then 'zig-zagging' on down country, west east. Cheers...n hope you're now inundated:thumbup: Call me, or 'pm' me if you want more from me. Paul

So, "who next for ARB Approval?" PLEASE come and join me (FoC) at 'Parkhill Training', nr. Loughborough, on Wed. 7th May 2014. See ARB Approved Contractor Preparation Workshop Cheers Paul

I'm interested too? Paul

Hi, apologies for my delay in replying in full here. The quote you/they cite is on p. vii of the 'Preface to 2nd Edition' which is dated 2000 with the 2nd impression dated 2004. Essentially this is a reprint, albeit with the 'Arb Assoc' logo on the front as we have the licence for its production, NOT an updated version of the book. Hoping this clarifies the situation. Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, I'm not aware that it's been updated...but I can't say categorically at this stage. Hence I'll find out so I'd suggest "hanging fire" on making a purchase until I post back (tomorrow now, sorry.) Paul

Great thread here, thank you 'people'....I might have to look into this ARB Approved Contractor thing myself The thinning (x1 example for a small business) often poses a challenge to applicant businesses but, IMHO, it is a real test of pruning skills, probably more so than reduction and hence it is really valuable in assessing pruning quality and standards. The 'maiden crown' thing is an ideal rather than an absolute. In practice, if you've demo'd good crown reduction works and then a crown thin on a previously pruned tree, this will normally be acceptable (perhaps with a condition imposed to view at the next reassessment.) Hoping to see more of you in the future n thanks again for your contributions here. Cheers.. Paul

This is where it gets interesting...not least as it wasn't me Cheers.. Paul

Yep, I'd have guessed Balsam Pop...particularly after two more knowledgeable people have gone before :-) Well done gentlemen Paul