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Become an ARB Approved Contractor

 

Are you interested in becoming an ARB Approved Contractor?

Register your interest here

Find your nearest free ARB Approved Contractor Workshop

Contractor courses

Accredited Scheme:

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement)
NQA ISO 9001 Quality Management
 

Trustmark Government Endorsed Quality

TrustMark is open to all ARB Approved Contractors and costs only £65.00 +VAT.

Please contact us for further details on arbac@trees.org.uk.

Click here to download the handbook
Click here to download the standards
 
Click here to download the handbook
Click here to download the standards

ARB Approved Contractor is the only comprehensive accreditation scheme for professional tree surgery businesses in the United Kingdom.

Becoming an Approved Contractor demonstrates the ability and desire of your business to work to best practice, achieve higher levels of knowledge and skill, and your ambition to promote and raise the professional standards of the industry.

Click on an option to learn more

What is an ARB Approved Contractor?

An ARB Approved Contractor (ArbAC) is a business that has been assessed by the AA, has met and continues to uphold the AA's Standards (both the ArbAC Standard relevant to the size of the business and the AA's Codes of Ethics and Professional Conduct and has paid the appropriate annual scheme management fee.

The Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor scheme has been setting the standards for tree surgery work for more than 40 years. The Arboricultural industry is not regulated by government but has a high accident potential and a responsibility to care for the UK's rich tree heritage.

A Recognised Benchmark

The new mark
ARB Approved Contractor Logo

In 2012 the scheme attained ISO 9001 (UKAS) accreditation in recognition of its quality management systems and is now a registered member of SSIP (The Safety Schemes in Procurement forum - the umbrella organisation for recognised health & safety schemes in the UK.) This brings further acceptance and credibility to the scheme and its members who uphold the national standard for arboricultural contracting businesses.

The old mark
ARB Approved Contractor Logo
 

Expand Your Business with Professional Accreditation

The ARB Approved Contractor scheme offers a recognised benchmark for arboricultural contracting throughout the UK and Ireland and is increasingly demanded by Local Authorities and other large commercial organisations. ARB Approved Contractor is also of considerable benefit in the domestic sector as a quality mark assuring the client of good quality tree care undertaken safely and efficiently. To find out more please view the scheme booklet and/or download an application form below and/or give us a call today.

Download the Application Form  

Download the 2024 Fees  

Click here to download the standards

Technical Standards Summary

A full schedule of the technical standards can be found in the documents below. Refer to notes on business size to see which Standard applies to you.

 

Module Section Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Module 1
Site safety
1.1 On site operation Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Module 2
Finished work
2.1 Completed works (pruning & planting) Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
2.2 Arboricultural knowledge Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
2.3 Reference material Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Module 3
Office support
3.1 Customer care and office systems Basic Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Detailed Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
3.2 Insurances Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
3.3 Licences Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
3.4 Wildlife and ecology Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Module 4
Health and
Safety
4.1 Health and safety management Basic Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Detailed Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
4.2 Health and safety communications and controls Business size up to 5

Business size more than 5+
Up to 19

Business size more than 5+
20+ & multi site

4.3 Training and competence Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
4.4 Environmental policy Basic Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Detailed Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
4.5 Workshop Basic Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
Detailed Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+
4.6 Yard (if you have one) Basic Business size up to 5 Business size more than 5+

An achievable standard

The ArbAC scheme sets a standard that is achievable by all good tree work contractors.

ArbAC Appeals Procedure

Should your application to become an ARB Approved Contractor result in a fail at Assessment or is refused and you feel that you wish to appeal, the Arboricultural Association has set out an appeal procedure. If you wish to appeal a decision, then please download the document below and read it carefully.

Download the Appeal Procedure Document Last Modified: 22 July 2021

The Benefits of ARB Approved Contractor Status

  • Use of the Approved Contractor Shield*
  • Listed in ARB Approved Contractor online directory (6,000 views per month)
  • ARB Approved Contractors get more business (2014 Survey Result)
  • Your Peace of mind - you’ve achieved the industry standard
  • Their Peace of mind - the customer knows they're using a professional
  • Ability to charge a professional fee for a professional service
  • Access to select contracts that require ArbACs (Some National Trust Regions, Local Authorities for example)
  • Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) points in some contracts
  • Set yourself apart - compete with your contemporaries, not with the cowboys
  • A focus for continuous improvement and investment
  • Access to TrustMark™ (Government Endorsed Scheme)
  • Discounts for the contractor and staff on AA Training Courses
  • Access to the supplier discounts catalogue - great financial discounts

*The Arboricultural Association take misuse of the Approved Contractor Shield seriously. Non Approved Businesses purporting to be ARB Approved and lapsed scheme members failing to remove the emblem have been prosecuted in the past.

 

The benefits to TREES are:

Trees are living, dynamic organisms that need appropriate management and care to ensure their safety, longevity and continued contribution to the landscape.

The benefits to tree OWNERS are:

Quality assured tree care services from contractors assessed and approved by the nation’s largest representative arboricultural body bring security to tree owners and managers in an industry renowned for more than its fair share of unscrupulous contractors. Tree owners can rely on ArbACs for appropriate advice and services.

Apply Online  

Download the Application Form  

Download the 2024 Fees  

Here to help

The AA is here to help:

  • Technical standards, see below (please note you will need to work out your business size to determine whether you need the standard for i) ‘up to 5 people,’ or ii) ‘more than 5 people.’) You can also use our new WTE tool to calculate the full-time equivalent of your part time employees.
  • Our web resource technical guidance where you can find the relevant generic HSE guidance and also the AA’s arb-specific guidance.
 

Don’t just take our word for it

Accredited Scheme:

 
 
 

TrustMark is open to all Arb Approved Contractors and costs only £65.00 +VAT.

Please contact Polly Stone for further details on arbac@trees.org.uk.


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