Good Practice - Project
Improved tree care quality in the region of Saldus and Broceni
Supporting the development of arborist specialisms in Latvia.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6A: Diversification & job creation
RDP Measure
- M19: LEADER/CLLD
Summary
The overall aim of this LEADER project was to support the development of the start-up tree care business ‘Kokkopis Vitkovskis’ in Saldus, Latvia. The project supported the investment in better and safer equipment and helped develop the company’s capacities to take advantage of public procurement opportunities and subcontracting offers. Professional training of its staff to obtain the ETW (European Tree Worker) qualification further contributed to achieving an impressive growth rate of the company over a short period of time. In addition, the project aimed to raise awareness of the role and use of professional arborists demonstrating how tree care can contribute effectively to the environment, but also to economic development through job creation and retention of young people and their families in rural communities.
Results
The main project results included:
- The company exceeded its growth and cash-flow ambitions and employed five full time employees by 2019.
- The project helped improve the green spaces in the region by saving many ancient trees from being cut down, helping to increase its carbon sink capacity, offering more shade coverage and higher environmental value.
- The company was successful in attracting one fully qualified arborist to return to the rural community of Saldus. Through the created job and income opportunities, the company has helped to raise the standard of living for young people in the community.
Promoter
SIA”BLK Service”/ Kokkopis Vitkovskis
Funding
Total budget 10 159 (EUR)
RDP support 7 111 (EUR)
Private/Own funds 1 000 (EUR)
Other funding sources 2 048 (EUR)
Ressourcen
Documents
EU CAP Network - Good Practice - Improved tree care quality in the region of Saldus and Broceni
(PDF – 715.3 KB)
Context
Ģirts Vitkovskis decided to start his own business employing one certified arborist and one assistant in Saldus, Latvia. However, the main challenge for the young company was that local councils did not fully understand what kind of services an arborist could provide. Nevertheless, demand for arborist services slowly grew, but the company remained under-equipped to take advantage of the economic opportunities.
Objectives
The main aim of the LEADER project was to develop the start-up company by helping to:
- Increase the intake of new clients.
- Acquire more climbing equipment to improve the safety and productivity of workers.
- Increase the company’s financial income.
- Improve the qualifications of team members to the ETW (European Tree Worker) standards, enabling them to work independently and safely freeing up the main supervisor to persevere with future business opportunities.
Activities
The LEADER project included the following activities:
- Supporting the start-up company in purchasing equipment. This included two tree climbing sets, two chainsaws, rigging equipment, three trimming saws and relevant workers’ clothing totalling a value of almost EUR 12 000.
- Assisting the company to increase its client base and growth rates. This included providing advice on how to access public procurement opportunities and how to obtain subcontracting contracts with bigger road and building construction companies.
- Increasing the professional qualifications of company staff to obtain the ETW levels to offer high quality services.
Main results
The main project results can be broken down into the three sustainability dimensions:
- Economic: By 2019, after three years of operation, the start-up company exceeded its objectives and the financial income parameters of a start-up company (>EUR 70 000 per year). The company achieved its growth and cash-flow ambitions and employed five full time employees. The list of clients has also been expanded, now incorporating local communities as well as road and building construction companies.
- Environmental / climate action: The LEADER project helped improve the green spaces in the region by saving many ancient trees from being cut down. This also helped to increase its carbon sink capacity, offering more shade coverage and higher environmental value. Additionally, the safety aspects for people were improved to appreciate and enjoy their green space better.
- Social: The project helped to consolidate jobs and recruit five full time workers. It also supported their professional development and their attainment of arborist qualifications. The company was successful in attracting one fully qualified arborist to return to the rural community of Saldus from the capital city. Through the created job and income opportunities, the company has helped to raise the standard of living for young people in the community.
- In 2018, the company applied successfully for a second LEADER project for support in purchasing a branch chipper and stump grinder totalling almost EUR 38 000. This enabled the company to hire three more employees.
This initiative won Latvia’s national Gala prize for LEADER projects and helped the company:
- Raise the qualifications of all employees to ETW standards.
- Diversify the company by establishing a tree nursery of 20 hectares.
- Become one of the main arborist companies in the region of Kurzeme and expand later across Latvia.
- Attract young people back to the rural community of Saldus to demonstrate that a good quality of life can not only be achieved in urban areas.
Key lessons and recommendations
- Investing in staff development and professional learning benefits a company’s ambitions for growth.
- Ģirts Vitkovskis is a great example demonstrating that almost everything is possible when a person has an idea, knowledge, confidence and belief in his abilities. His entrepreneurial spirit, vision and excitement about his own job has also created opportunities for others, impacting positively on wider rural development issues, such as rural depopulation and improving life quality and the environment.