Benb2k

Obviously you will only learn so much in one year but becuase the COL doesn't have the pressures of time and money like a commercial firm then you get to do a lot of things that an apprentice wouldn't normally do. I would say overall that the opportunity if excellent, they will show you how to do things acording to the book, this isn't the faster way and is different to how you work for a commercial firm where everything has to be done yesterday and at the right price.

If you can afford it then yes I would say go for it. Maybe put a post on here and see if you can do a few days for a local guy to make sure this is for you, the colleges big the job up and show students climbing the nicest trees with all of the flashy gear when in the real world it's a bit different - I've spent the day in a garden with cat mess dismantling a sycamore loaded with green fly - but then last week I spent two days reducing an 85ft Oak which was a beauty to climb so it's swings and roundabouts.