Ignis

What you'll earn PAYE is a broad spectrum depending on the firm and what they value you at, but I've found that guys entering the industry as climbers nowadays are offered about £11 - £12 ph if they are green. £13+ if they have a few years experience or pick it up quick, show efficiency, interest and prove they are reliable, with a good work ethic etc. After that, team leader roles seem to average at about £14 -16 ph. London it's often more. The trouble is, you have to somehow prove that you're worth the firm giving you climbing jobs. Especially if there are several trainees eager to get any climbing they can. It is a lot safer, easier and quicker for the firm just to use the experienced climber whenever they can. I've seen guys go and get all their tickets, turn up first day bright eyed and bushy tailed, only to get slowly ground down by the prospect of only doing small trees for the next three years. In my opinion, PAYE jobs can be harder to progress in. Your climbing background will help you. But Arb can throw some major challenges your way. Add a chainsaw, -4°C, sideways rain that leaves you frozen to your core, 100ft in the air, wind that makes you question the structural integrity of the tree and a lot of weight and you can quickly find yourself in a whole lot of trouble. That aspect of the job definitely isn't for everyone. There will be times where you experience near misses and you'll begin to understand the risks involved. If I were you, in today's climate, I'd give myself three years. Year 1, I'd seek an employed gig. Get them to fund some tickets and work until you've gone past the payback clause that'll be in your contract. Year 2, I'd approach some domestic arb contractors to get some Subbing work as a groundie. As many firms as you need to get full time work. 3 days a week with them, 2 days a week with him etc etc. Learn the ropes as it were... tell them that you're keen to try climbing. Keep them sweet by turning up when you say you will, keep your attitude straight and get after your goals. But keep yourself booked up as much as you can. Firms that like having you on board will begin to offer whole blocks of time. Like 3 months of work 2 days a week etc. Then you can start to plan around that. (Arb can go quiet all of a sudden so be careful there...) Year 3, you'll know if you like it or not by then. If so, push harder for climbing, learn what you can online, from books and through watching the more experienced guys. Start to think about how you can excel at the career. It's not all about knowing "what" you are doing up a tree, it's about knowing "why" You are doing it. Or some blokes come into the industry and decided they are happy chipping, cutting, working on the ground. There are too few like that because the money only starts to get better if you climb, or start out your own company.

Hi Steve, I might be tempted by this. I'm full time atm but that may change in the near future. For now though, do you have anything available on Saturdays? Cheers

Hi all. Is Australia still an option for Arborists? And is it as difficult as people say regarding visas, sponsorships etc? I've thought about taking the leap for years now but finally think I'm ready To go for it. (12 years working in arb during British winters has taken its toll and I fancy change of scenery and some new challenges.) It would be me, my partner and our two kids for a couple of years. Or permanently if an opportunity presented itself. We are considering doing it towards the end of this year / early next year to give ourselves enough time to properly save up for flights, visas and all that good stuff. If anyone has any info or leads, I'd appreciate hearing from you. Cheers lads and lasses.

Named after him. Same surname too. I reckon i'm a better drummer though

@Stubby how did you know I was a drummer??

I cant seem to add the photo for some reason though

Hi im after some advice on equipment. Ive just got into carving but i dont have any equipment. The photo is of my fourth carving ever! I used someone elses chainsaw and it has a normal 14" cross-cutting bar and chain. Thats it! Obiously theres only so fine I could go with a 5/32 chain and large sprocketed bar but people are saying i'm a natural at it so I would like to get into it more seriously. I'd like to find out more about things i can use to refine my pieces. Sanding? Grinding? And a rough idea of how much it'll cost to get going. Cheers

Hi all, I'll be moving to north Cornwall in a couple of weeks and I'm in need of something preferably full time to support my girlfriend and I as she won't be working at first. The move is much more sudden than we anticipated hence the lack of time to get it sorted. I've been in the industry for around 8 years, climbing on and off for most of that. Now I'm at a level where I can lead teams, train others etc etc. I have tickets up to cs39. I can be trusted to do almost any job to an exceptional standard without supervision. (I've never done a crane job but pretty much everything else.) I'm a quick, safe and professional climber and can get to places in a tree that others wouldn't. It's hard not to blow your own trumpet too much when looking for work but I'm highly skilled. I've been an On-call Firefighter with two different brigades so hopefully that'll tell you a little bit about how reliable and trustworthy I am. My attention to detail and desire to do an amazing job is also worth mentioning. References available etc. Apologies for such a brief post but my question is; does any body have any leads? or is anyone looking for someone? I am happy to take any position for now due to the somewhat urgent need for financial security when we move. Even yard based if it brings me some money in. best thing would be to email me ([email protected]) if you want any further info or know of anything available. Otherwise you can contact me on 07546326768. Thanks for your time.

Today has made me realise the need for night security. Turned up to one of the firms I am working for at present, fence down... One truck gone, The other messed about with a bit. Luckily the power of social media meant that they managed to track it down. Another tree crew came to the rescue and were first on scene so respect to them. You know who you are if you are reading this. They are saying that whoever nicked it, actually had the nerve to use it for work while it was still fully signwritten. The reckon it was nicked on the Friday eve... One regular customer confirmed a sighting on Saturday, another regular customer confirmed a sighting on Sunday. Two totally different locations. What the f×%k is going on nowadays???

We move out on 6th of April so a little while yet

Being late in the morning isn't my style anyway. Cheers mate. I'm starting to think it might actually work. Finding the right opportunity before we are forced to rent another place might be the tricky bit.

Yeah I've got climbing gear, a basic rigging set up, 150, 550xp and ppe

Cheers Bill. We are in Kent at the moment

Hi Mark, cheers for that. We are in Kent at present. Realistically, if an opportunity presented itself, I would happily relocate. Obviously if it was ages from Kent, then my girlfriend would ideally be squeezed into the negotiations. We haven't tried the housing association side of things. I think we also need to see citizens advice