tree surgeon jobs????

[lannyman8]

hey all...

i might be out of work soon and if this happens i will be training to become a tree surgeon, i just wanted to know if the jobs are out there, and so would it be worth training towards the said job, and what sort of wage would the said job return...

lots of questions and my head is starting to spin with what if's and this might happen or this could happen...

AAaaarrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

any help most welcome..

regards.

chris.

 

[Peter_t]

if im honest it is not a good time to become a tree surgeon.

iv been working for just over 2 years now and things have been a little iffy, in and out of jobs, been made redundant because of lack of work etc. but atm things are ok touch wood. i know many who are struggling too.

around my area many tree surgeons cannot find work so become self employed one man bands and surviving by undercutting the bigger companies (or even the small ones) and therefore some companies are struggling.

wages are not the best. as a trainee, just out of college with chainsaw tickets you are likely to get paid £60 for a hard days work. experienced climbers more like £90 (at least 5 years or so and you MUST be good).


the days are backbreaking, especially if your just starting or are not used to hard physical labour. early starts are the norm and when you get home your too tired to do much, even late night tv is not an option

but despite all this im loving it! so im not saying don't try but make sure whether this job is for you and you are determined and can surviving off of grotty wages for the first years,


pete

 

[Peter_t]

having said the above im not sure if there are fewer jobs in this industry than others.

have a look on here for some more opinions
http://arbtalk.co.uk/

there are many colleges about who do arboriculture courses and they are popular which means that there is a continuous stream of new tree surgeons about but not enough jobs to meet demand. but on the other hand i have been told many times (and have noticed) that many leave the industry within their first 3 years, either because it wasn't as glamorous as they thought or they simply cant take it.


pete

 

[lannyman8]

thanks Pete, thats just the sort of answer i needed, honist and to the point....

will look into it a bit more if and when the time comes. that will be a year away anyway so things might change, i might even go for the CP work instead, but that wont last for ever, and is a bit oooooer mrs at times...

thanks again.

chris.

 

[toilet digger]

the closest place to you is houghall,
you should be able to get some help with retraining, if i remember your circumstances correctly.
i can get you some info from my place (tutors will be back in a couple of weeks)
utility arborists are full of biz (till hill)
gimme a text if you want any more info or questions capn smellypants.

 

[lannyman8]

thanks Jamie, thought you would post...

 

[v-ness]

My mate is a self employed tree surgeon.
I know from him that being self employed is tough. There arent regular jobs, one months there are lots of calls, there are months when no one phones. Little jobs dont pay well, but for a lot of the well paying ones, you need a second climber to be safe. Those guys take approx £120 a day minimum up here. So you have to build this into your quote and then you're no longer undercutting the bigger companies.

However it is possible, if you havent got too much competition in your area to make a living. Especially if you combine the tree surgery with hedge-cutting type work.


There sometimes are jobs available with the power companies for tree surgeons.

Anyways, Good Luck!!

ATB
Ness

 

[toilet digger]

no probs bud, seriously though you have options.
a man of your abilities has RANGER written all over them.

 

[lannyman8]

ooooooh, ranger, that sounds good... did not think of that old son, will have a look and see whats about now.

 

[jackcbr]

Friend of mine is a Surrey Wildlife Ranger, so gets to play with lots of powertools and 4x4s. She did a countryside management course at college after being a vet nurse for quite a long time.

Also the rail companies are regularly chopping down trees as well.

PM me if you are thinking of setting up on your own, I might be able to help with any design stuff you need.

 

[lannyman8]

thank you very much Jackcbr....

regards.

chris.

 

[jackcbr]

No probs Chris

Jack

 

[TallMikeM]

I've not long finished a course in countryside management. We spent a fair amount of time with the arb students (teaching them how to tie their shoelaces, which end of the pencil you write with, that kind of stuff). Certainly around North London (where I did the course) there was no shortage of tree work about, but there was also no shortage of arb firms either.
With regards to the ranger option. There do appear still to be jobs in the industry, however getting the 1st rung on the ladder can be... complicated. The accepted pattern seems to be; get qualification, do some voluntry work. Get seasonal or contract job. Get another, get permenant job. This does mean some moving around the country. Of those I was at college with, the ones who have found it easist are those willing to move.
That said, I also know people who have got proper jobs in the area where they live, so it can be done.
If you need any more of my very limited insights then let me know.

 

[lannyman8]

thank you Mike..

regards.

chris.