What made you choose Arbtech?
Flexibility and control over your workday are a big part of the appeal for me.
It’s really reassuring to be trusted enough to plan your own work and get the job done without wasting time and money on rigid working hours and pointless rush hour travel to an office.
In previous consultancy roles I’ve held, there has only been a handful of other ‘tree people’ working, so I’m really looking forward to being part of such a big team. It’s a great opportunity, not just to learn new skills, but also to be part of a more sociable atmosphere.
I read through a lot of the ‘meet the team’ section on the website, and pretty much all the staff said they hoped to still be working for Arbtech in the ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?’ section – that’s an encouraging sign!
What do you love most about the company?
I only recently started, but one of the big pulls I saw quite clearly from the outside is the culture and ethos of the company.
There appears to be a no-nonsense approach to work, and a lot of trust is given to employees. Employees are also given flexibility over their workday, and I’ll be very happy never to see a timesheet again!
Investing in staff was another big one for me. It’s easy to be pigeonholed into a certain type of work in consultancy. Being able to work with people that specialise in different aspects of ecology and arboriculture – as well as access to an unlimited training budget – is great for the development of skills and career progression.
I’ve worked with a couple of consultancies prior to Arbtech and it’s hard to see why Arbtech’s approach to work isn’t standard across the industry. Keeping employees invested, trusted and ultimately happy means that they’ll work hard, be productive, and deliver projects to a high standard.
What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?
I’m recently engaged, and my fiancé and I have a two-year-old springer spaniel x English pointer called Winston. He’s full of energy and needs a lot of walking, so we’re out in our local Sussex Downs with the dog for a couple of hours most days.
I play rugby with my local team, which takes up a lot of winter weeknights and weekends.
If I’m not playing rugby on the weekend, I might be out on the mountain bike with mates in the Sussex/Surrey Hills, occasionally with Winston in tow.
My fiancé and I recently got an allotment garden, where we like to spend a lot of time maintaining and growing fruit and vegetables.
Bonfire Night celebrations are pretty big where I’m from, so a fair bit of the late summer/autumn is spent preparing for that. I’m involved in the fireworks and effigies for one of the bonfire societies, which means we spend a lot of time planning fireworks displays and building things to blow up!
What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?
Don’t be afraid to wait a bit to find something that genuinely interests you. Once you find it, pursue it. If it pays, even better.
I didn’t enjoy college and decided not to go to university straight away. Instead, I travelled and worked odd jobs for about six or seven years before becoming interested in trees. Once I found a clear pathway of study and a career, I thought it looked good and I went for it.
I see lots of people going to university to do courses they don’t enjoy and to go into a career they hate just because they think they have to.
What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?
I haven’t been on one yet, but I’ve heard great things about a recent ski trip. Growing up, I was lucky enough to have been on a few ski holidays with friends and family, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a week.
Snow over sun any day, so I’m looking forward to Arbtech’s next trip to the slopes!
Where do you want to travel to next?
Most countries in South America.
I’ve travelled all around Europe, India and South East Asia, and lived in Thailand for a couple of years. It’s while travelling that I’ve made some of the best memories and friendships of my life.
In 2016, I spent a few months in Colombia, and there’s still more time that the country alone deserves.
Going to Colombia has given me a bit of an insight into South America as a whole and I’d love to explore it further!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
It’s a bit of a cliché, but working at Arbtech.
I’ve read through a lot of the staff bios and pretty much everyone says the same thing. From what I’ve heard and read about so far, Rob puts a lot of emphasis on staff retention through decent pay, training, work structure, socials and ultimately respect.
Arbtech appears to offer flexibility, progression opportunities and a great working environment, so I don’t see why I’d want to work anywhere else.
What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?
My fiancé and I are aiming to buy a house at some point in the next few years. We also need to pay for a wedding, so we’re going to need to get saving!
I’ve recently been on a green woodworking course, and I’d love to explore that further. So far, it’s just been spoons, but I’m hoping to go back for the Windsor Chair course. After that, who knows?
Fearghus joined Arbtech in August 2023.
