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Great Oaks is adding two new City & Guilds NPTC qualifications to its arboriculture course programme, both focused on the safe use of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).
The new courses are designed for arborists, contractors and grounds maintenance teams who need recognised competence for MEWP operations. This includes safe platform use and chainsaw work from a MEWP.
We are pleased to confirm that Great Oaks is now offering two new City & Guilds NPTC qualifications:
These qualifications are a natural addition to our existing arboriculture training and NPTC qualifications in Preston, where we already deliver practical chainsaw, tree climbing, aerial rescue and forestry training for learners across Lancashire and the wider North West.
Course dates, booking details and further candidate information will be confirmed shortly. In the meantime, candidates and employers can register their interest with our team.
MEWPs are an important part of modern tree work. They can provide safe access where climbing may not be suitable, practical or proportionate. This includes work on dead, diseased or structurally compromised trees, as well as trees close to highways, buildings, utilities, schools or other live and restricted sites.
Used well, a MEWP provides a stable working platform that allows operations to be planned and carried out with a high degree of control. But operating one safely requires more than the ability to get close to the tree. Operators need to understand the machine itself, assess ground conditions, manage site setup, plan for emergencies, and work safely at height while using cutting equipment.
That combination of skills – machinery, site management and chainsaw operation – is exactly what these qualifications address.
The Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (0017-03) is the foundation qualification for anyone who uses a MEWP as part of their work in arboriculture, grounds maintenance or related operations.
Assessment covers the full operational cycle: pre-use checks, machine setup, rigging on different ground conditions, safe operation, lowering, emergency procedures and preparing the MEWP for transport. Candidates are assessed on their ability to identify hazards specific to the site, task and machine, and to apply appropriate control measures. Knowledge of the relevant legislation, including the Work at Height Regulations, PUWER and LOLER, is also assessed.
Assessment is practical and one-to-one, carried out by an approved NPTC assessor. The assessment is pass only and typically takes between 1.5 and 3 hours.
For arboriculture and grounds teams, this qualification establishes the core competence needed for safe MEWP operation and is a prerequisite for the Level 3 chainsaw qualification.
The Level 3 Certificate of Competence in Use of a Chainsaw from a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (0039-38) is a specialist qualification for those who carry out chainsaw operations from a MEWP as part of their work in arboriculture, forestry or related industries.
Assessment goes beyond general MEWP operation to cover the specific demands of using a chainsaw from the basket. This includes cutting techniques for different situations, such as sink cuts, step cuts, inboard and outboard finishing cuts, and cuts for timber under tension. It also covers how species, tree condition and time of year affect the work. Candidates are also assessed on MEWP rescue procedures, managing a trapped chainsaw, and maintaining safe working loads throughout.
Like the Level 2, assessment is practical and one-to-one with oral questioning, and typically takes between one and two hours.
This qualification sits naturally alongside other professional arboriculture qualifications, including ground-based chainsaw operator training, tree climbing and aerial rescue and using a chainsaw from a rope and harness.
Before registering for 0039-38, candidates must hold:
If you are unsure whether your existing qualifications meet these requirements, our team can advise before you register.
Tree work is a high-risk industry. Working at height, using chainsaws, managing falling material and operating around people, property and services all require careful control.
Recognised qualifications give employers confidence that operators have been properly assessed for the specific tasks they are being asked to carry out. For candidates, they provide a clear and credible route into more specialist arboriculture work, and demonstrate competence in a way that informal experience cannot.
Chainsaw users at work must be adequately trained and competent for the tasks they carry out. Where that work involves operating from a MEWP, a relevant certificate of competence is an important part of meeting that standard.
Our new MEWP qualifications help strengthen that pathway for learners who need to work safely and confidently from a mobile elevating work platform.
These qualifications are likely to be relevant for people working in:
They may also be relevant for employers looking to develop team competence for projects where MEWPs form part of the safe system of work.
At Great Oaks, we support candidates at different stages of their arboriculture journey. This includes both those building core chainsaw skills as well as those adding aerial, climbing or specialist qualifications to widen the work they can safely undertake. These new MEWP qualifications add another practical route for those who need recognised competence in platform use and specialist chainsaw operations.
Great Oaks is based near Preston and delivers practical arboriculture, forestry and chainsaw training for learners across Lancashire and the North West.
Our courses are built around hands-on instruction, realistic working environments and experienced trainers who understand the demands of the industry. We also operate as a City & Guilds NPTC Assessment Centre, supporting candidates, employers, trainers and assessors with recognised qualifications across arboriculture, forestry and land-based operations.
Whether you are developing your own skills or arranging training for a team, we can advise on the right qualification route for your current experience and goals.
Full details for the new MEWP courses will be confirmed soon, including dates, availability and booking information.
To register your interest in the new City & Guilds NPTC MEWP qualifications, please contact Great Oaks. Our team can take your details, discuss your current experience and help you prepare for the next step in your arboriculture training.
01772 369694
training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
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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
