National Highway Sector Scheme for the Environment and Landscape including Ecology

I have written about the new National Highway Sector Scheme both in the Newsletter and in essentialARB [AA Newsletter130 – September 2005, p4, essentialARB 17 – March 2006 p3 and essentialARB 18 – June 2006 p3]. This scheme will govern the work of all entering into contracts with the Highways Agency for arboricultural, landscaping and ecological new and maintenance works.

By the time you read this it is likely that the scheme will be live and the scheme document posted on the United Kingdom Accreditation Service website (www.ukas.com, search for NHSS Sector Scheme 18). At the time of writing, however, the final touches are being put on the scheme document so I can not report to you with 100% confidence the precise affect it will have on contractors – best to read the scheme document for yourselves.

What is highly likely is that AA Approved Contractors will be at an advantage as those bodies assessing applications from arboricultural contractors to undertake work on HA land will take into account the value of the AAAC scheme when assessing a contractor against the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001 and the NHSS scheme. Membership of the AAAC scheme is not, however, compulsory.

Mick Cottam hands over the EAC Banner to Chris Cooper-Abbs

Mick has been the UK representative on the European Arboricultural Council since 1999 and has given seven years of service to the EAC. I went to the EAC AGM in May and the high regard in which Mick is held by his fellow representatives was obvious. Thank you Mick and all the best Chris. Our relationships within the EAC are important in sharing best practice. EAC news from Mick is in the December 2006 AA Newsletter.

AALGO

There can’t be many arboriculturists who don’t know about the AA’s Approved Contractor and Registered Consultant schemes, but what about AALGO? Arboricultural Accreditation for Local Government Officers is a scheme for local government officers wishing to demonstrate workplace competence in arboriculture. In the same way that the AC and RC schemes are benchmarks for arboricultural contracting and consultancy, AALGO provides a way for tree officers and other public sector employees to demonstrate that they do their jobs to a level accepted as industry best practice.

Traditional qualifications such as the AA Technician’s Certificate or RFS Diploma in Arboriculture have, for some public sector workers been hard to obtain because their job description and breadth of work experience does not encompass the full syllabus of these qualifications. AALGO is a modular scheme where you can do as much or as little of it as you like and at your own pace. Submit a NVQ-style portfolio of evidence to your assessor/mentor when ready and receive accreditation for what you have done, even if your work involved only making TPOs, or managing contracts, or tree inspections… however much or little your job encompasses you can demonstrate competence with AALGO.

AALGO starts with a foundation workshop which is held in March each year. Why not make 2007 the year you demonstrate how well you do your local government job? Next Foundation Workshop is on 6th March 2007.

National Occupational Standards

National Occupational Standards play a deeply significant role in determining how we do our jobs. They are “statements of the skills, knowledge and understanding needed in employment and clearly define the outcomes of competent performance” Rhoderic Taylor is heading the arboricultural representation on the revision of the NOS levels 2 and 3. I know he will appreciate hearing any views you have. AA Technical Officer Paul Smith is one of the contributors to the review, as is the AA MEWPs group and AA Utility Arboriculture Group.

Review of CS Units

Over the next 12-18 months NPTC is planning a review of the Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Chainsaw and Related Operations. NPTC wishes to include the arboricultural and forestry industries in consultation to ensure that the qualification and associated units meet the needs of these industries by appropriately certificating the required skills. To be included in this consultation provide the following information: Name, job title/company, address, phone, email and relevant qualifications held to NPTC, Stoneleigh Park, Warwicks, CV8 2LG:S

In Brief

The APF Exhibition was great – sunstroke on day one, drowned on day two then just mud mud mud on day three. 27 people signed up as new AA members.

The York Conference was a great success with well over 400 people involved.

The legal action we are taking against two companies using the AA logo without consent continues. At the time of writing I have a few points on which Counsel requires my input then we will be ready to sign off so that the proceedings can be issued. We are now very close…