Changes for CSL and a future for all involved.

Since joining the LJN, almost a year ago, Cornwall Landscaping, (CSL) and those involved have seen monumental changes. Continued high exposure has led to to many contracts resulting in the fact the businesses involved could all continue on their merits, without real need for the cooperative. Following a meeting with good old HMRC in Nov 09 and subsequent internal meetings it was also necessary to abandon the co operative ideal as proposed regulations would have put us in a position where the necessary paperwork discredited the fact that 'reduced administration costs allow us to quote lower than other similar sized organisations in terms of services offered'. And in order to ensure throughflow of work by not charging additional admin costs - the consequence was that all those involved with CSL have had to determine their own businesses in their own right and have done so very succesfully in the last few months.CSL will actually remain and the ethos of CSL remains unchanged and we have now found a way forward - we are all still interlinked and the website, (undergoing some major changes at the moment) will also still remain but more as a portal with a central telephone line. Adam Van Dorp (an LJN'er) will be hosting CSL, thus allowing his move into Cornwall. (The site continues to attract several enquiries a week and will remain online). With an established network of resident landscapers, arborists, nurserymen etc., the allocation of skills is still there and the ability to provide varied work remains for apprentices / trainees etc., (indeed since the inauguration of CSL no one has ever been without work). Tree Wise Cornwall, Cornish Apple Trees et al will still intergral to CSL and the available advice to potential clients or those just seeking help.Since my moving to France, with my family, over 18 months ago, I have fallen in love with the life here and as such regular travel to Cornwall, difficult at the best of times, I hope to limit. (It has been over 5 times when my journeys have been severly affected by weather etc) To this end I have decided to start a new company SLM - (please don't cringe but it stands for Sustainable Land Management - and there will be a new LJN member with these initials shortly), which is more consultation based, with practitioner work in France also.Much of these changes have been assisted by LJN, the contacts made on here have allowed me to gain footholds into territory which would have proved almost impossible without the LJN - and future postings should demonstrate this.Watching the influx of SGD members onto the site and (whilst they will never admit so) the fact that the APL and now also BALI seem to be taking the grass roots, (pardon the pun), of the industry more seriously since LJN has become omnipresent only reflects the good this site has had on the UK landscaping industry. Thanks Philip.

"General guide I use for scarifng is 3x mowing time for one pass 4x for two passes. I Use a blower to clear it up. Scarifying by hand forget about it. takes for ever, really hard on the body only job that gives me blisters."

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Comments

Graeme @ BGS January 28, 2010 at 7:25pm

Good luck Pip with the new venture.
The Perfumed Garden January 29, 2010 at 8:25am

Yes, good luck Pip. I was always interested in the CSL co operative as I was thinking about doing something along similar lines around here. I will be aware of the HMRC if I do anything in the future though.
PRO

Phil Voice January 29, 2010 at 9:04am

Good luck from me too Pip :)

I think there is a rich, untapped, potential for landscaping and environmental work here in France.
Pip Howard January 29, 2010 at 9:09am

Thanks guys - The Cooperative was a good idea, but the fact was that despite having comments from government praising the idea, legislation was starting to make it just too difficult to implement. I have praise the HMRC who were so helpful and tried to help out in order to keep the model going. The new set up is basically no more than a portal - in reality much the same to clients and potential clients, but with no dividends or shared liability.