I haven't used this site for a while but I am possibly coming to an end of my current journey so it may be time to start using it again.
Anyway; My last four years has consisted of 'gardening' in heritage, public and private gardens as a gardener/horticulturist (trainee), dealing with everything from maintenance, development, production...
Before that I was in your world working for commercial companies but was at the beginning of my career paid peanuts.
I'm still paid peanuts, though fortunately (or not as the case may be) I benefit from subsidised accommodation.
I'd like to know how much I would expect to earn if I returned to commercial work as a paid employee, not as self-employed or running a business.
My attributes are;
6 years related full-time employment (much more if we were talking hours) in a variety of related positions.
A formal horticultural qualification.
CS30,31,32,34, chipper, sprayer, tractor and so on...
I just want to get an idea of what I can earn commercially as I am coming to the end of what I am doing now and it would be good to compare the two.
Many thanks in advance,
Jamie
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Replies
£15 - 18K depending on where in the Uk you are, possibly more if you got a supervisors role with your skills and experience, I certainly would be. CS tickets, PA and formal horty qualification + real industry experience should see you at the upper end of the bracket. BUT, it all depends if your working for a big outfit or a small sole trader. Sole trader I would say you would be looking at the lower end, big outfit the upper.
Hi Jamie
I think (again lol :->) that's good advice above.
You're in a rather barren area though and to achieve £15/£18k a year employed you'd need to move.
The tied accommodation I assume you have must also generate some well being?
Cheers, Eugene
Cheers for your replies! Eugene - by 'barren area' I'm assuming you mean Carmarthenshire? I have no ties and have lived in Berkshire, Aberdeenshire, Oxfordshire chasing work after leaving my home of Cumbria. Tied accomadation has both pro's and con's.
Regards!
Jamie - yes, I do mean Carmarthenshire.
If you are able to move and know your outgoings (with reserves to get yourself going) I'm sure you will do well on your own, even if that's not what you currently think you're capable of.
If you choose Oxfordshire and want employment I would be pleased to hear from you.
Cheers, Eugene
Interesting post this one, on looking back, I commented on your original post when you were thinking about going self employed back in 2011.
By the sounds of it since then you have acquired many relevant industry skills etc, that should stand you in good stead whichever route you choose to take, wheter going back into a 'big team' or a small operation - I must say though I would think long and hard about how much 'freedom' you may have had in your existing employment - have you had to (or been able to) choose how to do things or have you always been told what to do?
This in my experience can mean the difference between being allowed to work to your own standards or being 'forced' to work to a lower standard than you would personally like - hope you know what I mean?
I realize you have some big decisions ahead about where you want to go with things, although i must say that if you are for any reason looking at coming to work in Lincolnshire, then I would be interested in talking to you. Would all depend what area of the job you wanted to work in though....
Eugene - I could easily move back to Cumbria and set myself up on my own but the market I want to attract isn't available without travelling. I used to work at Thenford near Banbury and a good friend of mine is now Head Gardener at Evenly Hall, Brackley if you know that?
Adam - Thank you for recalling my initial post! I do indeed know what you mean, I am often unable to complete things to my satisfaction. Unfortunately I think that is the nature of the beast and it would a very prestigious position to be able to do so.
I am heading wherever I feel I may learn the most, ideally in conjunction with respect. Thank you!
That skilled? You'll earn far more self employed IMO.
I'd stick my neck out and say you should be looking to manage people, so employing them, not work for someone else who's probably less experienced than you.
Most of the skills you have are not really needed in the most profitable areas of the industry, sad to say. What counts is finding the right area, and the right client base, and servicing that business well. Even as a one-man-band you should net far more than the rates paid by national employers. Obviously, benefits need to be factored in as part of the decision, though.
Adam's post above raises a question. Are you more able to work to you own standards in the commercial world, constantly having to compromise within budgets and competition, or working for an employer?
from what ive looked at recently the rates are very low. - it makes you realise how much its worth being self-employed , even supervisors are only paid £8.50an hr. and relevant tax off that !
fixed wage yes, maybe holidays , (n.i conts are extra ) but fixed hours and not much satisfaction i imagine.
Jamie we have a mutual friend from Thenford. I am looking for an assistant at my garden in Gloucestershire. To give you an idea of wages in this neck of the woods, i would probably be able to pay you 18k per annum, but cant offer accommodation. Thanks Rob
I'm employed fulltime by a decent sized firm, whose work encompasses hard and soft landscaping, tree and hedge planting, tree surgery, and commercial and residential maintenance. I have NPTC Certs CS 30, 31, 38, 39, and PA1/6, and I have a formal arboricultural qualification. I'm paid £9.50 per hour and do a 40hr week. Paid holiday and a company van. Yeah, could be better off, but also be a lot worse.
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