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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on March 3, 2012 at 14:17

The site has almost been a bit of a cheat if I'm honest! People are very helpful, you can learn before making expensive mistakes, and overall I think it has done a lot to drive quality and perfection in our industry.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on March 3, 2012 at 14:30

Couldn't have put it better myself Dan

Dan Frazer Gardening said:

The site has almost been a bit of a cheat if I'm honest! People are very helpful, you can learn before making expensive mistakes, and overall I think it has done a lot to drive quality and perfection in our industry.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Bright on March 4, 2012 at 12:10

Hi mibservices,

Thanks for your insight about the relevant licences needed, I have a PA1/PA2 licence for when I worked on a 560 hectare farm in Essex for 16 years doing all the farm spraying plus contracting, I also did the farmhouses gardens (4) maintenance wise i.e. planting, grass and hedge cutting for similar time.
I have no formal qualifications in horticulture (RHS qualifications), but gained experience during the time worked at the farm I have attended lots of courses associated with machinery, Health and Safety, chainsaws, power tools etc.

I am in the process of acquiring a PA6 cert for knapsack work.

Yes my business is only 4 months old and this is my first commercial bid for a Parish council

The only Certifications that you mentioned that I don't know is the EOP's and RAMS would you mind explaining please.
www.mibservices.co.uk said:

Post has gone seriously off topic. Jason, above you have said you started 4 months ago, is this correct ?.

Hi Jason. I don't won't to take the wind out of your sails, but can you give us a bit about your experience, skills, qualifications etc etc. Going after a decent sized commercial contract isn't straight forward as you might think, and if you get it, and get it wrong it will snap you like a twig (its got very little to do with acres per hour, don't get caught up in that thinking), servicing the contract is even more difficult.

Depending on the contract owner,(property management company, HA, residents Asocc. Council, Facilities management company to name a few),  they MAY require you to have a lot of things in place like H & S, EOP's, RAMS, all certificates, licence's and accreditations like PA1/PA6, Lantra / NPTC, CHAS, EA, PQQ qualified through constructionline, carry £5m PLI, financially sound, have 3-5 years past accounts, references from other large projects you have done in the past or are still contracted to do. They may also want written evidence of your ability to service the contract should your business suffer a "business interuption", like your business unit burns down or gets broken into and all your kit gets stolen. These are all requirements that you will come across in the commercial fields of this industry.

I'm highlighting all of the above because this is stuff you need to be aware of. The post got side tracked by acres per hour cutting rate which is of no use to you at this stage.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on March 4, 2012 at 12:28

RAMS - are written Risk Assessments & Method Statements. These are are written procedures / policies of how you will carry out the works in a safe and correct manner. They cover all operations from litter picking to hedge cutting and everything in-between and if your council is anything like our local council you will have to have these in place. PM me and I will sort you out with a set, mines were supplied from a professional H & S company,and they are  HSE and SAFEcontractor approved. RAMS are an essential piece of written "knowledge" that EVERY commercial contractor should have in their van at all times. 

EOP's - is if you are an employer, some contracts require you to have a Equal Opportunities Policy in place, but only ever applies if you do employ. Not many contracts ask for it, but usually if the customer is "invester in people" certified the can do.

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