Tree work07884 274693Training01772 369694
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re thinking about becoming a tree surgeon – or at least trying to understand whether this industry is the right fit. And let me tell you: tree surgery is a skilled trade and a career that rewards the effort you put in and rewards those who put the time and heart into doing it properly.
I’ve built Great Oaks from the ground up and our team has trained countless people who walked in the door unsure of their abilities and walked out confident, safe, and ready for the next step. So in this blog, I want to give you the real, honest version of what it takes to build a successful career as a tree surgeon in the UK, the version you don’t always get from the glossy brochures.
Jason Beig, Director of Great Oaks Tree Services
Tree surgery is one of those rare careers where you finish each day knowing you did something real. You’ve improved a landscape. Made a tree safer. Helped a client feel confident about their property. And you get to do it outdoors, working alongside people who genuinely rely on each other.
Of course, there’s also the practical side. You can build a strong income in this industry. As we explain on our salary guide, beginners often start around £16,000–£22,000 a year, but once you gain qualifications, experience, and confidence, those numbers rise quickly. It’s perfectly achievable to earn £30,000–£40,000 or more in employment, and the self-employed day rates can be extremely competitive (and yes, £300–£380 a day is realistic for experienced climbers on specialist jobs).
But here’s the key thing: you don’t get to those figures by chance. You get there by building solid foundations and developing yourself step by step.
Everyone wants to climb trees on day one. I get it. It’s exciting. But here’s something most people don’t realise: the best climbers I’ve trained all had one thing in common, they respected the basics. When you join the industry as a trainee, you’ll spend your early days learning how a site runs:
You’ll also start building your core skills through essential qualifications, like the City & Guilds/NPTC Level 2 Award units (previously known as CS30/31). These cover chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting, small-tree felling, in other words, the toolkit you absolutely must have before progressing.
At Great Oaks, we teach these in small groups with experienced instructors, because learning bad habits early is one of the biggest career-stallers I see. Good habits, though? They stay with you forever.
Shortcuts with a chainsaw rarely save time. They raise the chance of kickback, pinching and poor decision making under pressure. HSE guidance is clear that anyone using a chainsaw at work must be trained and competent for the specific tasks they are asked to do, and the majority of fatal and major injuries in tree work are linked to chainsaw operations.
This is the part where I get a bit blunt: the people who drift through the industry rarely reach their potential. The ones who thrive are the ones who set small, achievable steps and follow them.
A typical journey looks something like this:
None of this requires you to be superhuman. It just requires commitment, progression, and the right training at the right time.
You don’t need to be the strongest person on site. You don’t need to be fearless. You definitely don’t need to be a daredevil.
But you do need:
Ambition, even if it’s quiet, steady ambition
These traits beat raw strength every single day of the week.
I built our Training Academy because I wanted to create the experience I wish I’d had, real woodland, real tools, real feedback, and real support.
Here’s what we do differently:
Genuine progression pathways, whether you want to climb, specialise, or eventually run your own business
I’ve seen trainees arrive nervous, unsure, lacking confidence… and within weeks they’re standing taller, handling saws safely, and understanding exactly what their future can look like.
If you want that kind of start, we’d love to help you get there.
Get your foundation qualification booked. The units 201/202/203 are your entry ticket to the industry, there’s no shortcut here.
Choose the right training environment. Look for real practice, small groups, and experienced instructors.
Speak to employers early. Many are happy to support your learning if you show enthusiasm.
Plan ahead. Decide what your next 12–36 months look like, don’t leave it to chance.
Keep moving forward. Whether you’re on the ground, learning to climb, or thinking about self-employment, always have your next goal in sight.
I’ve been in this industry a long time, and I still love walking onto a site first thing in the morning. There’s something special about this work, the problem-solving, the teamwork, the connection with nature, the satisfaction of a job well done.
If you want a career where you can grow year after year, where your skills genuinely matter, and where hard work is recognised, then tree surgery could be exactly what you’re looking for.
And if you want someone to guide you through it, support your training, and help you progress step by step, that’s exactly why Great Oaks exists.
Whenever you’re ready, we’re here to help you get started.
Jason Beig
Owner, Great Oaks Tree Services & Training Academy
Our Training Centre in Preston is ideally placed for learners across Lancashire and the North West.
We regularly train candidates from:
Preston
Blackpool
Chorley
Lancaster
Blackburn
Southport
Courses take place in real woodland environments and are led by instructors with years of field and teaching experience.
Great Oaks Tree Services & Training Academy is based in Kirkham, near Preston, and delivers NPTC chainsaw courses to learners across the North West. Whether you’re searching for chainsaw training in Lancashire or need certification near Preston, we’re your trusted training provider.
01772 369694 ✉️ training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
01772 369694 ✉️ training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
Careers
Climbing, grounds maintenance and utility work.Climbing, grounds and utility work.
Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor.
Last minuteAvailability
Starts Monday 19 October 2026
3 days plus 1 for assessment
£9671 place
Entry requirements: Ground Based Chainsaw Operator and Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
Book this date, Using a Chainsaw from a Rope and HarnessOr call the training office on 01772 369694
