Greenwich · Ipswich
How to Start a Gardening Business in Greenwich
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Greenwich and the wider Ipswich area.
Open the Gardening Business Launch Kit to see everything included — £22A gardening business is one of the more open trades to start in the UK -- no general licence required -- though Greenwich, like everywhere else, has a handful of activity-specific rules worth knowing before you pick up the first client.
What the rules say
There's no blanket licence for being a gardener. The real rules sit around specific tasks: carrying away a client's garden waste yourself likely triggers waste carrier registration with your relevant national agency, while chainsaw/tree work and pesticide application each require their own certification. Public liability insurance isn't legally required for a sole trader, but most clients expect it regardless.
Quick answers
Do I need to register as a waste carrier to work in Greenwich?
Likely yes, if you take clients' garden waste away yourself as part of the job anywhere in the UK, including Greenwich. Confirm directly with the Environment Agency, SEPA or Natural Resources Wales depending on where Greenwich sits.
How do I find my first gardening clients in Greenwich?
Many new gardeners in Greenwich start with a handful of regular maintenance rounds built through local referrals and a simple online presence. The Gardening Business Launch Kit covers how to structure and grow a round from scratch.
Do I need insurance to start a gardening business in Greenwich?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement as a sole trader, but it's widely expected by clients across Greenwich and Ipswich. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you take on any staff.
Do I need a chainsaw licence to work in Greenwich?
There's no single government licence for chainsaw use, but adequate training is a legal duty under PUWER 1998, whether you're working in Greenwich or anywhere else. A recognised competence certificate (commonly NPTC or Lantra Awards) is the standard way to evidence this.