Ep 14 Secrets of Scaling a Tree Surgery Business with George Blake

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In this episode, Henri Ghijben welcomes George Blake of Blake Tree Care for a grounded and inspiring conversation about growing a successful tree surgery business from the ground up. From borrowing trailers and grinding stumps on weekends to managing a 16+ person team and planning for the future, George shares the real story behind building a business in arboriculture. They dive into the value of doing the basics right, creating a strong team culture, and adapting to the evolving challenges of the industry. If you're a business owner, climber, or just passionate about professional growth, this episode is full of practical lessons and honest insights.

Topics Discussed:

• George’s journey from weekend firewood jobs to full-time tree surgeon

• Starting Blake Tree Care during the recession

• Challenges of pricing, staffing, and scaling a tree surgery business

• Building a strong company culture and retaining great team members

• The importance of investing in training and personal development

• Using quiet months to build future business (logs, outreach, networking)

• How George tracks performance with KPIs and bonus structures

• Creating leadership roles and planning for team growth

• The future of arboriculture: AI, robotics, and mechanization

• Thoughts on industry regulation and the need for higher standards

• Advice for hiring, apprenticeships, and upskilling staff

• The power of consistency, communication, and doing the little things right

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About the Guest

George Blake is the founder of Blake Tree Care, based in Essex. With roots in arboriculture going back to his early teens, George studied at Otley College before becoming a full-time tree surgeon in 2008. In 2017, he launched his own company, which has since grown into a thriving team of over a dozen skilled professionals. Committed to continuous learning and high standards, George recently completed his Professional Tree Inspection (PTI) qualification and remains passionate about building a strong team culture and raising the bar in the tree care industry.

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Contact the Guest:

Website: https://www.blaketreecare.co.uk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blaketreecare483

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blaketreecare/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlakeTreeCareTreeSurgeon

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Connect with the host:

Website: http://tsba.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treesurgeonsbusinessacademy/ ; https://www.instagram.com/henrighijben/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/treesurgeonbusinessowners

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henri-ghijben

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This episode is sponsored by Greenline Arb (GLA) - a powerful digital platform created by tree surgeons, aimed at taking the stress out of tree work. Focussing on the main pain points in the game, such as; finding tip sites, connecting workers with employers, responding to emergency situations and locating services that are required to run a tree company. Green Line is allowing professionals to operate with more freedom. Solving multiple problems in one fell swoop. Download the app today or check out the website for more information.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/greenline-arb/id6448873784

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.greenlinearbapp&hl=en_US&pli=1

Website: https://www.greenlinearb.com/