A SWEF Enterprise Fund grant from Dorset Community Foundation has helped tree surgeon Toby Gale climb to greater heights with his business.
The 22-year-old, from Beaminster, had been following his dream of a career in arboriculture after being taken on by an established firm. But despite getting regular work, he couldn’t take on higher paying jobs without the qualifications or the equipment.
“I needed the climbing qualification, which is £730, and the kit, which consists of two climbing systems and a harness, but affording it was just out of my reach,” said Toby. “Being about to climb and work at height is just such a massive part of the business, that’s where the money is.”
He heard from a friend about the community foundation’s SWEF Enterprise grants, which helps young people aged 18 to 30 overcome financial challenges and other disadvantages to develop their business. It offers grants of up to £2,000 for businesses that have been established for under two years and up to £500 for start-ups.
After filling out an application form he was invited to an online interview with a SWEF panel. “The application form took me a few weeks because I had to think about my business, but it was a good exercise,” he said.
“The interview was good because it was just talking about what I do and how I wanted to grow the business. There’s a lot of potential in it because trees keep growing and when they die they need to be removed – it’s like an ever evolving workplace.”
He subsequently learned he’d been awarded the £2,000 he’d asked for, enough to get the qualification and the kit he needed. “I was absolutely stoked when I found out,” he said. “I was just chatting with my mum and sister when I had the email pop up on my phone. When I read it I just said ‘oh my God’, we were all jumping around.
“It was lovely, really cool, that people could see my plan and understood what I wanted to do and how I was going to do it. That’s why they funded me and it really gave me the reassurance that I was doing the right thing.”
It was lovely, really cool, that people could see my plan and understood what I wanted to do and how I was going to do it
As soon as he bought the kit and gained the qualification he noticed the difference. “I was able to accept any work that came at me, when before I was having to decline work because I couldn’t climb,” he said. “I’m earning a lot more money now and I’ve been able to invest that back into the business and buy more and better equipment. As a groundworker you can earn £110 to £120 a day but straight after getting the qualification I was able to charge £170, so it really did make a massive difference.”
Most of his work comes from sub-contracting for two firms in the Dorchester area but his reputation and work ethic means he is also picking up a lot of jobs of his own. “I do the sub-contracting for two really good firms from Monday to Thursday and then my own private jobs on Saturday and Sunday because it’s a busy time,” he said. “As soon as nesting season finishes at the end of August it is busy until the next June, so I’m making the most of it. I really love it and I’m so happy.”
He said receiving the grant has put him ahead of where he had planned to be. “I think I’m two years further on than I would have been because of the grant so I’m really grateful,” he said.
Find out more about SWEF Enterprise Fund grants here.
Pictured: Tree surgeon Toby Gale working at height thanks to a £2,000 grant from Dorset Community Foundation’s SWEF Enterprise Fund
