Keegan Gentle’s daily ritual involves chainsaws, trees and good communication.

“I’ll set up for chipping and dragging branches and stacking. Just making sure it’s safe, lots of communication with the boys up the tree.”

He’s been in an apprenticeship with Four Seasons Treecare for two and a half months, and enjoys the physical aspect of the job.

“I like to be outside, working with my hands, constantly doing something.”

His journey to becoming an arborist began with an email to the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) in May.

“I was looking at getting out of dairy farming, and wasn’t sure what was out there.”

Taskforce youth employment coach Sharon Watson helped Gentle perfect his CV and cover letters, and decide what field to go into.

“I spoke about what I wanted to do, what I was doing, what qualifications I had.”

Upon joining the Four Seasons team, a grant from the taskforce helped Gentle get a chainsaw, handsaw, some secateurs, and basic climbing equipment.

“That’s all mine to keep.”

Now, he’s on track to become a fully-qualified arborist.

operations manager and senior arborist Willy Hintz said Gentle took to the job straight away.

“He’s been right into it, getting stuck into his bookwork. Think he’s been doing it faster than anyone else.”

Hintz has been with Four Seasons since 2009, and was part of the committee who selected Gentle over other candidates.

“When he sent his CV through to us, it stood out more than anyone else’s,” Hintz said.

The polish and preparedness that Gentle had when applying to the role was appreciated by the business, he said.

Gentle reckons not enough young people know about the taskforce and about the help they provide, “for free.”

“I think it really benefits young people.”

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is a national initiative aimed at helping under 25s to secure employment and training.

The Ashburton District Council and Mayor Neil Brown have championed the taskforce’s work in Ashburton since 2022.

By Anisha Satya