Why should I use an ARB Approved Contractor?

Contractors listed in our directory listing have submitted their businesses and their tree work to the Arboricultural Association for assessment and have been found competent to provide arboricultural contracting services to clients.

The Arboricultural Association’s assessment of Approved Contractors is not limited to their knowledge of trees and tree maintenance but also:

• Their understanding and practical application of current arboricultural practice
• Their compliance with legislative requirements of arboricultural contracting
• Their compliance with health and safety requirements of arboricultural contracting (endorsed by the CHAS scheme)
• Their high levels of service to clients through efficient business management.

Each Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor is required to identify a principal or manager who is responsible to the Association for the company’s standards. The standard required by the Association is very high and Approved Contractors are subject to reassessments at regular intervals to ensure that standards are maintained. The standards themselves are regularly reviewed to ensure that they reflect contemporary arboricultural research findings, legislative and health and safety requirements, business practices and customer expectations.

The Association requires that Approved Contractors within this directory must hold insurances to levels appropriate to liabilities that their work may generate, and in all cases Public Liability insurance to a minimum of £5,000,000 with a maximum excess of £250 in any one incident. Employers’ Liability insurance (as applicable) to an appropriate level commensurate with the size of the business is needed. Professional Indemnity insurance, to a minimum of £500,000, may also be required if the contractor provides independent written advice. 

Inclusion of a contractor within this directory should not be regarded as proof of current insurance cover. Before entering into any contractural agreement clients should satisfy themselves that appropriate insurance is in place by asking for evidence from the contractor and/or their broker.