Peterlee tree cutting service bags new work through £1m training package

Free training designed to help local companies boost skills and win new work is proving successful for a County Durham tree cutting business.

Rhys Williams - together with his parents Karen and Lee, who run Eden Dene Tree Services from their Peterlee home - has converted his new-found website and social media knowledge into his arboriculture expertise.

Providing professional tree cutting services, site clearance and planting services since 2017, Eden Dene’s business has supposedly trebled since the entrepreneurial family completed a Boost Your Business course this summer.

The move has provided extra insight for Rhys Williams, who acquired new commercial acumen.

He said that the course had been ‘absolutely brilliant’, equipping him with knowledge to be used to land a steady flow of new work from the private and commercial sectors.

Rhys said: “The course has been a life changer from a business perspective. There’s been a noticeable increase in business since we put into practice the skills that we learnt.

“The benefits have hugely outweighed all the time and effort and we are busier than ever. We’re going from strength-to-strength, and I’m really excited about the future and the prospect of growing the business even more and introducing new services.”

Eden Dene has seen consistent growth in the last 12 months and currently has achieved a five-figure turnover, with a strong forward order book for 2019 in place.

The Williams started their business when Lee decided to leave the Army to take on a fresh challenge - one that would also provide their son with an interesting and rewarding career.

‘Boost Your Business’ is part of a £1m package of training support being rolled out to hundreds of local organisations, part of the skills and enterprise initiative, Go>Grow.

This is being overseen by Gateshead College in partnership with 30 local training providers, following the securement of £15m in funding from the European Social Fund through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Adam Clemerson, skills project manager at course deliverer North East Enterprise Agency Ltd, added: “The Williams have a great business that’s really benefited from training to help it gear up for growth.

“Now, armed with a new skills toolkit, together with a top-class service and the confidence to take the next steps, I’m sure they’ll be even more success to come for them in the next 12 months.”