Route
to Job: Out
of school at 16, Clare is today one of the youngest arboricultural
officers in the country. The 24-year-old was directed to Capel
Manor College by careers' teachers after her GCSEs in 1993.
She took a one-year BTEC in contract management and honed her
specialism with a two-year National Diploma in arboriculture
and tree management. While doing this she notched up a City
and Guilds phase three in tree management.
Further certificates in tree climbing and aerial rescue reinforced
her credentials, as well as the potentially lethal nature of
the career.
Haringey gave Clare her first job, as an arborist in 1997. Before
long she was a tree inspector, then an assistant arboricultural
officer at Barnet before heading back to Haringey and her present
job.
present job.
Typical day: "My
work demands lots of communication because I manage external
and internal contracts. My first job at 9am today was looking
at a planning application for conservation areas.
"This is a male-dominated industry and some people are
nonplussed when I answer the phone and say I'm the tree officer.
People in the workplace have come to respect me but it is often
harder to win around members of the public.
"Much of my day is taken with organising planting in the
borough.
Site visits follow in the afternoon.
As well as talking to schools about their planting, I deal with
the public on tree-related insurance claims.
"I also liase with conservation, parks
and
housing departments.
Sometimes it's the police if someone has cut down a council-owned
tree without permission.In the afternoon I write reports and
sometimes I don't leave until 6.30pm.
"People are often surprised how quickly I've progressed,
but I was a Student of the Year at Capel Manor College and my
heart was set on this career."
Best
aspect of the job:"Using your ideas to change
the landscape."
Worst
aspect: "Trying to please everyone and working
within a budget."
Ambition:
"To be a contract manager or arboricultural manager of
a tree section within local government."
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