Apprentice Tree Surgeon

Summary

Lumberjack Tree Services is a small company run by its owner, Jack Creighton, mainly doing domestic tree work but also taking on larger contracts involving site clearances /woodland management. We would be able to offer experience in all aspects of the business, so the apprentice would gain a good understanding of the practicalities of the business.

Wage

£12,563.20 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

As the apprentice gains more experience and expertise, he/she would be rewarded with additional wages and increased responsibility.

Training course

Arborist (level 2)

Hours

Most days 8am-4pm, including travel time. Weekend and evening working is rare. You will attend ARU Writtle college one day a week.

32 hours a week

Possible start date

Tuesday 29 April

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

Every job is different but some of the basics are common, such as:

Snedding of felled timber
Dragging of timber and brash
Chipping of brash
Hedge cutting
Using back-pack blower to tidy site
Log splitting

Examples of Lumberjack Tree Services can be seen on our Instagram account: uk_lumberjack.

Where you’ll work

Sebright Farm
Boreham Road, Great Leighs
Chelmsford
CM3 1PR

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

WRITTLE COLLEGE LIMITED

Your training course

Arborist (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.
Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.

Your training plan

Most days the work day will be 8am-4pm, including travel time.

Weekend working and evening working is rare.

You will attend ARU Writtle College CM1 3RR one day a week from 9am-5pm.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 2 or E)
Maths (grade 2 or E)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Team working
Initiative
Physical fitness

Other requirements

The applicant needs to realise that tree work goes on under all weather conditions providing the safety of the workers is assured. This includes cold and wet conditions.

About this company

Lumberjack Tree Services is a small company run by its owner Jack Creighton mainly doing domestic tree work but also taking on larger clearances or woodland management. Able to offer experience in all aspects of the business so the apprentice would gain a good understanding of the practicalities of the business to supplement the academic work on their course. As the apprentice gains more experience and expertise, they would be rewarded with additional wages and increased responsibility.

Company benefits

The ultimate objective of the apprenticeship would be to enable the successful applicant to get enough experience and knowledge to launch their own business should they want to.

After this apprenticeship

A fully qualified tree surgeon with climbing qualifications would be able to earn up to £30000.

Ask a question

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