Kingswood Training Services’ (see advertisement on page 39) first Trade Show and Open Day has been hailed a great success. It attracted over 400 visitors, including many ex-Service personnel who have trained with Kingswood over the past few years.

 

Among them was Kev Gench, ex- RLC, who said ‘Having completed my 22 years in the Army, I was looking for a change of career. I had already decided that I wanted to work outdoors and had no desire to continue doing a desk job. There was only one real choice for me and that was tree surgery. Having researched what qualifications I was going to need in order to make myself employable, it became obvious that the only course provider that covered all the bases was Kingswood Training Services (KTS).

 

‘The course was outstanding; it was very thorough and the instructors were both enthusiastic and patient. I found it very easy to learn in such an environment. All the instructors were happy to share their knowledge and experience with the students and this in turn gave me confidence that I would be able to find employment.

 

‘I completed the course in March 2008 and left the Army in June 2009, going straight into employment as a climber for a tree surgery company. Now, 18 months after taking the course, I work on a utilities contract, earning well and enjoying what I do. I wholeheartedly recommend KTS and will be using them in the future for a dismantling course that I want to complete.’

 

KTS Training Director, Richard Olley, says ‘It was great to have a chance to catch up with so many past candidates and hear how many have set up their own thriving tree surgery companies. We very pleased to be supported by 40 exhibitors from a broad spectrum of companies and organisations, and we have had overwhelmingly positive feedback both from them and from the many people who travelled considerable distances to attend. The purpose of hosting the show was to enable everyone involved to network with each other, and to increase awareness of our training facility to the arboricultural industry as a whole. We specialise in running intensive courses for people who want a complete career change, which is why so many Service leavers choose to train with us.’

 

Exhibitors at the show included such well-known companies as Stihl, Husqvarna and Oregon, and organisations like the Arboricultural Association, Lantra and Essential Arb. Events included climbing competitions, machinery demonstrations and chainsaw carving, and Iveco even exhibited a new 4WD truck for the first time in the UK. This will definitely be an annual event, so look out for details of next year’s show in Quest.