Tree Surgeon's Podcast with Henri Ghijben
Ep 12 From the UK to Canada: Building a 100+ Employee Tree Service – Martin Evans’ Journey
Published: 18 March 2025 at 06:56 Europe/London
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In this episode of the Tree Surgeons Podcast, host Henry welcomes Martin Evans, a British-born arborist who made a bold move to Canada and built Vancouver Island Tree Services (VI Tree)—a thriving tree care business with over 100 employees. Martin shares his journey from starting in the UK tree industry, facing business challenges, and ultimately relocating to Canada to take on new opportunities. He discusses the differences between the UK and Canadian tree industries, the realities of running a large-scale tree service business, and advice for arborists looking to grow their careers or even move abroad.
Whether you're a tree worker, a business owner, or just fascinated by international success stories, this episode is packed with valuable insights, industry comparisons, and practical advice for anyone in arboriculture.
Topics Discussed:
- Martin’s journey in arboriculture - Starting and scaling a tree service business - Challenges of running a tree surgery business - Differences between UK & Canadian tree work - Utility & contract work - Working in extreme conditions - Advice for aspiring arborists & entrepreneurs - Opportunities for UK arborists in Canada
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction Henri introduces Martin Evans and his background.
00:02:00 – How Martin discovered tree surgery after studying gamekeeping.
00:05:00 - Martin’s first tree business in the UK.
00:08:00 – Why Martin chose Canada over New Zealand or France.
00:12:00 – Comparing wages, training, and job opportunities between UK and Canadian Tree Industries
00:18:00 – Starting Vancouver Island Tree Services (VI Tree)
00:23:00 – Winning utility contracts and navigating competitiog, expanding into BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and beyond.
00:27:00 – How tree workers operate in harsh Canadian winters.
00:30:00 – Advice for arborists & tree surgery business owners
00:32:00 – How UK climbers can move to Canada and get work.
00:35:00 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Martin
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About the Guest
Martin Evans is the CEO of Vancouver Island Tree Service and CEO of West Coast Wood Chippers, with over 25 years of experience in arboriculture. Originally from the UK, Martin ran his own successful tree service company for 15 years before moving to Canada in 2010 with his wife and four children. He studied Woodland and Estate Management at Warwickshire College of Agriculture (1991-1993), laying the foundation for his expertise in the industry.
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Contact the Guest:
Website: https://www.vitree.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-evans-b7699339/ ;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitree.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VITree.ca#
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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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