Jamie Jones

Why... It is just a set up picture for illustration purpose... Do n't read too much into it..

Has anyone here done the Lantra LOLER course and assessment, that qualifies you for doing LOLER inspections of Arborist's climbing equipment? I would be grateful if you could tell me what is involved and is it a hard course to get through, with lots of theory? Any advice is most welcome.

I have eventually let go of my very old archaic iPhone and got a new one.. So what iPhone compatible Apps are people finding are good for work purposes? - Arborist (Shrub/Tree Identifications, Ground, Aerial, Kit, etc). - Ground Maintenance Apps.

Thank you Paul.... I hope that I have provided a good idea for a very valid publication that may help keep some new and experienced climbers safer

As mad as it sounds you can be a sole trader but still have to be put on PAYE if you don’t undertake certain measures. at first I was in total disbelief as to what I was being told. to prove you are independent you had to basically do some or all of the following. Use your own equipment, supply your own PPE, You have to say / have control of when you work and what hours you work, Every job has to be invoiced, you have to work for multiple customers, being VAT register is a big help. what goes against you is if you use the main contractors equipment, if they supply you any PPE, they have control of any aspect of your hours or when you have to work. If you work for them on block or long contracts, I they pay you expenses that you don’t have to declare. If all you self employed work is for one customer.. If 75% or more of your work is for one customer (although I understand that aspect that they might have or will be reducing that threshold). there are some other aspects that could also be applied by HMRC to dean you as employed. but they are the main ones. yep it’s a crazy world now. As I say when I did that Intro to being and Employer day I was shocked as to how it was working to dean a self employed person that then becomes an employed person in HMRC eyes. many of the others small businesses were also shocked as well as there was technicalities that meant HMRC could claim tax avoidance/ unpaid taxes off of them. plus now you could also be fined for failing to pay the pension aspect as well as having to back pay it. If you don’t believe me then go and do a local government enterprise becoming an employer day. They go through lots that you have to know on the new laws. many companies I am sure will be falling foul of the system and HMRC will be going after the small and medium sized businesses. The big businesses will get away with loads I am sure like they always have done.

A lot has changed over the last couple of years and it is continually changing. You have to remember the government thinks that everyone is ripping them off on tax so they are trying to make it impossible to do that. that is the whole reason why tax all has to be file digitally. Any discrepancy or it doesn’t tally with your bank accounts then you get investigated. And if you think that HMRC are not looking at your bank accounts and trading patterns. Your misguided. lots changed under anti money laundering laws. HMRC can look at any bank account you might have without you even knowing

Thank you and yes this was some of the bits I didn’t cover.

Re Insurance: It is not just the insurance company. I understand what you are saying. But it is not as simple as you make it out to be. For the work and services you supply as a sub contractor you have to be insured. The main contractor has to be insured for the whole project. if something goes wrong the main contractors insurance company will look to mitigate their losses. If you think one insurance company will take the whole hit, you will be mistaken. From a different perspective I did a Welsh Government, Business Wales Introduction to being an employer training day where they covered a whole host of aspects from being an employer, hiring subcontractors, does an non-employed person become an employed person in the eyes of HMRC. Plus various aspects of engaging sub contractors. Even to the point where some sub contractors have to be taxed at source. This happen big time in the construction industry. It has caused a major hick up in how I move and grow my business. on the Intro to being an employer day there were about 15 other small businesses who were all having to rethink how they were operating with hired in labour / sub contractors. You now really do have to demonstrate that you really are a separate sub contract business. I think that this is to push more people into being LTD and VAT registered. Being what is described as Freelance / Casual is very much a thing of the past. Mad a sole trader you really do have to be able to demonstrate you truly are independent. This whole issue has caused big problems with companies that uses employment agencies for contracted labour. If I understand it correctly the agency pays you on PAYE zero hours now and you can’t work for them as a sole trader anymore. I am in the position where I need a second person for 8-10 months of the year. Previously I could use people very easily as freelance/self employed. Now I can’t. I have had to register as a PAYE employer. This whole situation is to get the state out of paying as much in pensions, getting more employees NI contributions, pushing more small businesses into being VAT registered. Etc. My accountant is convinced that the VAT threshold will be lowered greatly. There was talk last year that anyone who was self employed earning £20k or more would have to go VAT registered. As always they target the small businesses while turning a blind eye to big business.

I have not read your post... But if working sub contract.. ie a contractor brought is. My insurance company says that I still need it.

As I understand it... If you are PAYE with the company then you would have to be employed by them. Especially if using their equipment. It could be considered as a Tax Avoidance dodge by your employer in the eyes of HMRC. Fully check out the are you employed or self employed aspect on the HMRC website. You can work self-employed for other companies.... But you will need to take into account the following: -You need to be registered as also being self employed with HMRC. -You will also need to make self-employed NI contributions as well as income tax contributions on money earned. This will be at the full rate of tax on income as your tax allowance will be allocated to your PAYE income. -You need to genially be using your own tools of the trade other than major plant items (Otherwise you could be considered as employed and that will open a can of worms further down the road. ). -You will need your own liability insurance as a sub-contractor unless employed through an agency.. Otherwise you could have two issues. -If all your self employment comes largely/mainly from one company then HMRC can deem it that you are employed with that company and again that can open up a can of worms retrospectively sorting out the tax implications. ---> 1, HMRC will consider you as being employed and that will open a can of worms further down the road. ---> 2, If some thing goes wrong on a job, The main contractor's insurance company will be looking to spread financial liability with the sub-contractors insurance. -The hourly rate might seem to be better for a self employed person but there are many things that a self employed person has to factor in to the equation and you might find that you are working for far less than you thought you would be. -Who fixes the Hourly rate? You or the person you are contracted to as this can have an effect on if the tax man considers if you are employed or self employed. -Who controls your hours and says when you can or can't work as this will also an effect of if the tax man considers if you are employed or self employed. -Will you be appointing an accountant to manage your self employed tax affairs? If not then this will attract the taxman to look at you more closely and having done this self employed work, they might deem any work you have done for your main employer as a tax dodge and this will trigger a full investigation into bot you and your current employer. Then they will be taxes reclaimed by the tax man and possible penalties. - So you will also need to pay your accountancy fees out of any self employed earnings you you get. - If doing Self Employed work as well as PAYE employment you (or your accountants) will also have to complete an end of year Tax Return. If that differs from what they have on file then they will investigate you. This means time and money. You should be aware that it is very easy for HMRC to think that there is a problem when there isn't and you have done everything correctly. Having a tax inspection is not fun even if you are 100% straight and all your accounting is correct. I have been investigated a number of times and got through every inspection. But it has caused havoc and cost me loads in lost earnings, accountancy costs etc.. - Then there is how the self employed pay tax... You earn this year and initially pay your tax on any net profit next year. So you need to set aside your tax to pay later in year two, so don't spend it. In year two, as well paying year one tax in full, you will as need to pay tax on account based on your first years trading profits which goes towards you end of year two accounts/net profit from your second years trading. Then when you have done your year two accounts you may need to pay extra tax or make a claim for over payment. This system is so you technically are paying tax as you earn it... But this can bite you on the backside if in year two you don't earn as much as year one. The Summery Is: If you are you are not intending to go full time self-employed it could all be more trouble and hassle than it is worth. So you want to be earning a considerable amount to make it worth it. If you are intending to go full time self employed and or set up your own business then it might be beneficial to you as you can start claiming an purchases against tax. Where you employer will gain from you being self employed is that he will have to pay less employers National Insurance.. (But if they have a HMRC / VAT inspection then they might claim that back from them at a later date. But it will them keep both them and you on their radar to help an eye on.

I have done so many NPTC City & Guilds Training Courses/Assessments for Chiansaw Work, Climbing and Working in the Canopy... But these qualifications are mostly about the equipment, how to safely use it and H&S Law.....But there is very information information covered on actually working in or on the different species of trees.. So... Is there currently a book on trees species for Arborists that not only helps you to identifies trees.... But also gives good information to climbing and ground arborists on what trees will take Reductions, Pollarding etc. When is the best time of year for working on different species, Which trees are brittle, Which trees are more prone to cause issue like Barber-Chairing, has rapid sap loss, can be very brittle to work on. Along with many of the other issues that people working in the field are likely to need to know for best practice and to help keep you safe. This might also help to reduce potential accidents from happening. Does the Arb Association have any publications that contains this sort of information? If not... It might be an idea for them to say team up with a publisher like 'Collins' who publish a book called the 'British Tree Guide' to consider doing a joint publication with and Arborists Version... They would only have to increase the page size / format, Use the current information and add in box sections with the relevant Arborists information.. If there is anyone from the Arb Association on this forum that might be able to respond or open a discussion with the powers to be within the Arb Association that can comment. It would be much appreciated.

I agree... That is why this country is always being dragged down...

We may have some of the worst political leaders... But being part of the EU has not done us any favours. We have given too much to be on a so called level playing field that has been anything but level... Fishing... We have the best fishing waters and have far more than other countries... We used to have a fishing fleet as well... Now many of our fishing ports lay empty while European fishing boat fish our waters. We had the best and Highest quality Steel manufacturing in Europe. Some of it was closed as a result of giving German industry the opportunity to develop. Our NHS is far better than some EU countries, but not at the top of the league. Poorest Parenting: Blame the parents not the government. The Education system would be better perhaps if the parents were better and installed a better sense of discipline and respect in the children. The UK's biggest problem is we don't manufacture that much any more... Why? Historically the Unions saw the industrial leaders as the enemy and wouldn't work with them. Where as in Germany the Unions worked with the industrial leaders and that's why they beat us hands down. The Workers, Bosses, Unions are all working for the same goals. Where as it became so toxic in the UK that manufactures moved there activities off shore and the jobs all went... Then there is the youth of today that would rather stay at home on their xboxes instead of going out and working.. The UK got into a depend on the state ideology and and we have a weak work force. That is why so many people from across Europe have been able to do so we over here. They have a better work ethic. The last three people I have given employment to have not lasted more than tree months at best.. I would be more than happy to employ someone from the EU and I would expect that they would earn more working for me.

Really? Not that well thought-out is it? 1) Yep not everything is right in the UK... But the whole EU Gravy-Train has become a total lunacy situation that has worked against the UK for year..... 2) A good business will pay a fair wage... But if you want paying for doing nothing need I say more.. If you don't like working for someone else or a business. Try working for yourself... Then welcome to the real world. 3) Affordable Housing.... Yep fair point.... But there are areas of the country where housing is very cheap. You could move. 4) Minimum wage... Interesting point as it was the UK that brought that in to raise wages. Many EU countries don't have it. It is not an EU ruling.... So no change. 5) The working time directive was EU but the UK has added extra to it so we have a higher standard than many EU countries. 6) Yep if Russia launched all their missiles then yes there is a good chance that we will be wiped out. But all that contamination in the atmosphere would travel around the world and affect them.. Then add in the US, EU, NATO response and Russia will be gone as well... At least you won't have anything to worry about.

'Lack of planning?' We have know since the beginning this is how it would be 'Combined with inept negotiations?' Really? The EU thought they had us over a barrel and was hoping Labour would have got in and we would have crumbled totally. 'Important National decision making being negotiated within weeks of the deadline'. You obviously have a total lack of understanding how negotiation work within the political world. if you did you would know that each side will be holding out for as much as they could get and to see who will crumble first. 'What happened to the Boris’s ‘Oven Ready Deal?’ That was the Leaving Part, not the trade deal.

Yes and no.... You can do and induction and give some basic training.. But you would need to document it.... Technically with H&S for most grounds maintenance you only need chainsaw and herbicide spraying qualifications. HM H&S Officers said that I didn't need a qualifications for things like strimmer, blower and hedge trimmers etc...... I would say that a small chipper like a Greenmech CS100 you might get away with not having to have him qualified and just have an induction. But a bigger proper chipper then I would say that yes they will need a qualification because the level of risk increases. However, Should something go wrong your insurance may view it differently. These days I seem to find that the insurance requirements are higher than what H&S say. Because they view things to the upmost requirements. But I would suggest that you look at it this way.. If your taking a lad on... What's in it for him? I take it you would be looking to pay minimum wages or there abouts to get things going... So what incentive is there for him to stay with you if he is not going to get anything out of it. So I would suggest that you maybe pay him as a trainee a Minimum Wage + Bonuses each month. That way there is an incentive for him to work. Then look at getting hims some courses: For Grounds Maintenance: 1) 'First Aid + 'F' (Forestry - Critical Bleed Module) 2) Strimmer 3) Blower 4) Hedge Cutters 5) Chipper 6) Ride-On Mower 7) Then think about the Herbicide Spraying All these are very short courses... As an incentive you might want to fund the cheaper courses and part fund the more expensive ones, or if fully funding them then it is often common to have a training agreement that should they leave within a certain time frame they have to repay a percentage of the training costs. If your going to be doing small Tree Work / Jobs Then as a minimum: Chainsaw: CS30 (Maintenance and Cross Cutting), CS31 (Small Tree Felling), CS32 (Medium Tree Felling). These courses tend to be a bit more expensive.. So you could work funding these in with bonuses? If you are going to be doing or moving the business towards doing full Arb work. Then add: Climbing and Aerial Rescue (ASAP) Chainsaw from a rope & Harness Wind Blown & Uprooted And then take thing further. From personal experience if you have got a good worker it will transform your business in that going from one to two people often means you get jobs done in less than half the time... But your biggest problem is getting the right person...

All I can say is there will be up's and downs in business regardless of recessions, brexit or any other factor.... One thing I have learned is focusing and worrying on what you don't have control of will do you more damage. Spend your time focused on what you do have control of and making your business work for you.. This will make the difference as to if your successful or not in life.

I have been happy with the Solidur range of chainsaw trousers... I get mine from Chris Forestry... https://www.chrisforestry.co.uk

I would still get a Dolmar... Good reliable saws... Parts will be about for a while.... And lets be honest at the price Makita is selling them for it is a bargin never to be missed.. Fraction of the price of a Stihl...

Has anyone ever managed to get hold of or Seen / Used the Domlar PS311TB 30cc Top Handle Chainsaw.. If so is it any good? It would to think that it would be good to get one before Dolmar is no more (Bad decisions by Makita imho) Shavey... If you see this... Can you get hold of them yet?

Gutted... Big fan of the Dolmar Chainsaws. ?

I have seen a few youtube videos of Arborist using the Daisy Chain Hitch for Rigging, when rigging down the main stem... It is not a recognised knot on the NPTC Rigging course I have done.. So I wondered if others in the UK are using this type of knot with their rigging? **Being used in Rigging: See Here: **How To Tie the Daisy Chain Hitch: See Here: Whats the Pro's & Con's of using it???? It looks like a good easy knot for the groundie to untie..

Whats the betting that they will charge top price for a product that will be made in a Chinese sweatshop?

Only too true... It always gets me when the youngster gives you 20mins notice that he won't be in today on a text because he hasn't got the balls to call you. O' and it ties in with something like the launch of the new xbox fifa game being available

I think I have narrowed it down now to one of the following: 1) TW230HB - Has anyone got the new TW230HB with the Kabota 25hp Engine (Sub750Kg) 2) Greenmech 165 Evo? But I understand that there are two options in the Greenmech 165 Evo 1) Greenmech 165 Evo Petrol B&S 37hp (sub 750Kg) -> Anyone able to give some feedback on the petrol Evo 165? 2) Greenmech 165 Evo Diesel Kabota 25hp (1000Kg) -> Anyone able to give some feedback on the Diesel Evo 165? Thanks for the feed back so far..