AA Teccie (Paul)

Can you explain to me then Good to hear something similar is running elsewhere and bringing benefits. Fingers crossed..! Cheers Gareth, have good weekend. Paul

As Paul says, it is a tool (albeit a very useful one...and a tad expensive) NOT a tree inspector and not an excuse for not doing a full and thorough VTA. IMHO oftne used to confirm one's suspicions anyway but can be very useful in tree retention scenarios, i.e. where you're just not sure and the temptation is to remove JIC! Cheers.. Paul

Hi Gareth, I do stand to be corrected ('as always') but I thought it was Lantra SSC and Ros Burnley, rather than Lantra Awards, who were involved in steering it and because they can draw down some funding for it's development and because it relates to education and industry skills etc.

Don't think you have to pay to update your CV, as you put it, but if you want to be upgraded / move to the next category up then an admin fee applies (inevitable when it's held on a centralised record with someone like Lantra SSC )

Hi all, My eldest lad's just passed his test and as such I've just become aware of some further licence changes from 19-Jan-2013 (luckily his licence is active from 17th Jan...PHEW!) It would seem that the weight of trailer issue has changed to a max. of 750kg regardless of the weight of the towing vehicle (previously they could have a combined weight of upto 3500kg, i.e landrover and 750+kg trailer.) See https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories for further info OR Driving Licence Information is actually much better! Cheers all, n have a good weekend...RUGBY Paul

Apparnetly a further admin fee, similar amount circa £25, will be incurred if you wish to upgrade as your portfolio builds to the next criteria level. So, yes there is a cost incurred but it's nominal and hopefully the benefits far outweigh this.

Yeah, exactly (it won't be aimed at 'Joe Public') and kinda (help arborist to gain employment.) But one of the main motivations behind it is to try to get away from the current 'ticket culture' that prevails, well at least in the 'medium-larger employer' domain (prob less so in the small business as you often know the perosn you're employing / engaging.)

Hi Steve, to register (a nominal fee of £25 is what they were talking about...I think, and probably annually.) It's not an individual approval thing, I don't believe, as there won;t be any assessment of teh indivudal 'per se'...BUT if you're looking for an industry approval Just read back my post and probably doesn't help a great deal so I'll ask Jaime to reply...plus 'awful' spelling:confused1: Cheers.. Paul

Steve....owwww, sounds bad (says he sat here with swelling below the knee...you've no idea hwo hard sitting aorund is?...joking apart I do too much and hence 'the blance' is out of kilter.) I'm a Cod Liver Oil advocate, but mine not as severe as yours. Have read muhc about the positive effects of copper braclets etc. but maybe it just makes a good story...worth a try tho? Take care...oh yeah, rest n recuperation with legs elevated also helps...if you can find time Cheers.. Paul

Hi Pete, good post. Part of our collective (AA/ISA/Lantra/NPTC etc.) role within the industry in whihc we all work is to seek to professionalise it to make it a better place for those who are serious and seek to earn an honest living from it BUT to also further marginalise those who don't. Having a clear career/progression structure within, whihc we don't have currently...at least not in any recognised format, is considered to be a step in the right direction. PSF/R2 will be a voluntary scheme which it is beleived will help gain recogntioin of the none quantifiable skills which come with (good) expereince and industry exposure and to seek to shift the emphasis from the current 'ticket culture' to something more meaningful. In all honest many larger companies alreday have something internal whihc, in part, is used to dictate pay scales and seniority etc. but it is anticpated it will aid all prospective employers in engaging staff of the appropriate qualifications AND expereince / skills etc. Hope this answers your question, at least in part, but I acknowledge it could have been aimed at the wider ARBTALK audience to gauge the views of others (hence, apologies if I've misinterpreted here.) Cheers..! Paul

This website may be of interest. Small Woods | Bringing woodlands to life Good luck, and enjoy your woodland. Paul

Excellent, look forward to meeting you Sean. Cheers.. Paul

3ds now 2ds (2012 Regs) no 'dying' anymore, as ambiguous, n if alledging 'dangerous' needs substantive evidence, usually within an arb report. Cheers.. Paul

Iain, thanks again for this which isn't only HSE 'endorsed' but it's actually a HSE event (one of many they've run over the years.) As you say it is aimed at those clients / 'service buyers', mainly commercial / LAs etc. rather than domestic, engaging arb contractors and HSE point out quite clearly their responsibilities in engaging competent contractors and dis-charging their duties. All-in-all a very good event always well received. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Iain, Firstly I 'take my hat off to you' for your time, commitment and passion within this post and I wholly agree with your sentiments...and indeed your sense of realism. Thank you and well done. (apologies here, I was looking for the "hands clapping" smilie but unsuccesfully.) However the 'R2' program seeks to do quite the opposite of placing a glass ceiling over peoples heads...indeed it seeks to place a stage underneath them to elevate them to a position of recognition (BAD analogy compared with yours ) based on the exact strengths you mention, i.e. skills, expereince and abilities. Yes of course it will include training evdience and NPTCs etc., and indeed any formal qualifications at whatever level that may be held, but fundamentally it is about recognising their 'professionalism', recording this, and those essential 'core skills' that make people employable...at all levels and beit aerially or on the gorund. I sincerely hope this response goes someway to clarifying 'R2' and reassuring everyone it is a good thing for the industry and everyone within. Thank you. Cheers.. Paul PS In terms of 'policing' the thing, I believe it is anticipated it will, in effect' 'self-police' by employers / managers / supervisors etc., albeit with some verification role probably by Lantra as the landbased industries sector skills council. Also 'members' will pay a fee, but the proposal, I believe, is a nominal amount (circa £25 but don't quote me) to manage and develop the system. Sorry I can't give definites here, so maybe I should just..."hushhh", but I'm not directly involved as it is not an Arb Assoc. proposal.

Hi there, Sorry I forgot to mention that the Arb Assoc Scottish Branch do some good stuff up there, partic P&D with the FC and some good visits to tree collections etc. but not sure if that's what yer after. Give um a call.. Scottish - SC Branch - - Arboricultural Association Cheers.. Paul

Thanks Pumpy...AND it's a registration, rather than 'licence' (as previously), scenario and no fees involved. Trouble is the EA system won't currently allow you to register as a low-tier operator, i.e. inc. 'greenwaste', unitl end 2013 and some have opted for the 'higher-tier' as their existing licence has expired, when there's no need to Cheers.. Paul

We did try the inaugural 'ARB-FEST' event near Leeds last year but, sadly, had to cancel last minute as an absolute wash out...GUTTING!!! Granted this was a 'CPD' event rather than a show, but only 40 people booked on and half of them were from 'daaan sarfff'. We'd happily consider assisting anything you're prepared to field 'up norfff' (forgive the pun.) Cheers all.. Paul PS Have got 2x events (FoC) at Myerscough in Feb. (Wed. 6th = P&D event with FC and Wed. 13th ArbAC event with "yours truely" )

Haha, excellent....'scary eh?!" except the delectable Kayt of course...and the otehr ladies....no 'favouritism' now.

...coz afterall I am a very important person (I know you're either laffing or crying at this point...I hope it's the former:thumbup1:) Jokin apart a few newbies, "welcome to you all and thanks to 'Steve Bullman & Co.' for setting this magnificent forum up" (sadly nowt to do with the AA (Arb Association)...now back to ME:sneaky2:, have enquired directly wots the 'AA Teccie' about, so: Staff Team - Arboricultural Association Not a bad looker eh?...ME that it is! Enjoy the browse. Cheers all.. Paul

Welcome...and good move, lotsa great stuff on here! Enjoy.. Paul

Tony, "don't worry" if you need a steer on the fungi stuff on the day we'll be there to help John seemed fine, very relaxed, really nice fella..."no worries, be happy!":thumbup: Cheers.. Paul

Posted back last night formn my new 'RASPBERRY' phone but wenyt straight to Steve...oops ! TGC...yummy, might take a trip over to the canteen myself next time. Cheers Pommie n hope you're central London day is as good as my Capel day will be Cheers.. Paul

Hmmm? Well look on the bright side "things can only get better!" Welcome and congrats on both your quals and on joining ARBTALK...you won't regret it...good move! Enjoy.. Paul

Excellent, thanks for that Pommie, never actually 'wandered over there'....will you be on 6th Feb? Maybe see you there. Cheers.. Paul