27/08/2026
What do the first five years of an arb career actually look like?
Andy Bradley reached five years with The Tree Fella in July this year, and his training record with an Arb Approved Contractor provides a useful map for anyone starting out.
He came to arboriculture after serving in the British Forces, with no tree work qualifications or experience. He studied Level 3 Arboriculture at East Durham College (Houghall), funded through an Advanced Learner Loan — a funding route many adult career-changers aren’t aware of.
Through college, he completed his chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting qualification in February 2021, followed by his small tree felling qualification in March. He started with The Tree Fella in July of the same year.
He went on to complete his tree climbing and aerial rescue course in May 2022, around ten months into the job and as part of his ongoing college studies. Tree inspection, QTRA, woodchipper, stump grinder, Chapter 8 and MEWP 1b/3b followed over the years that followed.
With a whole range of training undertaken during his five years in arb, along with 80 hours of CPD in the last year alone, Andy continues to develop his skills and knowledge.
Well done on five years’ service, Andy — we hope there are many more to come.
