Employing to replace family members

[Lucan Unlordly]

Having built our small but busy business over several years with the help of family members we have now reached a point where regular staff are required in order to handle future growth.

Current employees include a relative who works as required, for 2 or 3 days a week on a self employed basis for the busiest 8 months of each year.
My wife, who is also company secretary does the books in her spare time. A niece who works from home for a day or two doing web updates etc., and a daughter who helps out on her days off. I'm the traffic warden in what was a brilliant lifestyle business for me and others but that's fast becoming bogged down and increasingly inefficient.

So how to find the right employees?
I've spoken to business associates who warn us off of work experience apprentices, too much hard work. Have friends in higher level recruitment who are so far removed from the reality of running a small business that they offer no meaningful advice...and whilst I think I know what age, gender, personality an ideal employee would be I don't have a set position in mind. (All rounder needed) i dont have the time to filter through the loads of applications that a general as would encourage so who best to engage with for some positive help?

 

[Iain_Henderson]

From being in a very similar position 20 years ago we've found the best employees by putting an advert in the nearest shop.

It will to some extent depend on your local area but we've found great employees this way - on average they stay for 8 years and all have worked part time so no tax/NI.

Good luck, Iain

 

[ryedale]

I took an apprentice on at 16 with no skills in our industry at all but a real passion to learn

2 years on and he's one of our leading developers and there's very little I wouldn't trust him to handle. Obviously he needed a bit of work and the time at the start but the return on that investment of time has been so worth it.

 

[myfairworld]

May just be the way you phrased your post but there is a world of difference between people on work experience (and how and why they are seeking work experience) and an apprentice. There's also a world of difference related to what it is that you want your employee(s) to do.

I want mine to do rather a lot, much of it not what you'd regard as traditional shop work. A keen apprentice can be a great asset to a business in both the short and the long term. Certainly my apprentice who came to do an 'intermediate' retail apprenticeship and has now almost completed an advanced apprenticeship in retail management was useful from day 1 and has evolved over time into my right hand person. Yes you have to put effort into guiding and encouraging an apprentice but if you want anyone to have more than a standard role you are going to have to put effort into guiding and encouraging them anyway. Obviously you have to advertise the apprenticeship and interview for it on the basis that you want someone to take on a multi-faceted role.

 

[Ian J]

I've spoken to business associates who warn us off of work experience apprentices, too much hard work.

Much depends on how much training you are willing to give them as well as anything else.

I have two sons who decided to become chefs and joined the YTS scheme as was. One ended up with a large hotel chain and became an adequate hotel chef whilst the other joined the enthusiastic kitchen of the best restaurant in the city and he ended up an excellent chef

 

[Newchodge]

Deciding beforehand on the age and gender of your future employee4 shows that you really don't understand basic employment law. You need to decide on the skills and abilities that the post needs (and define exactly what the post is) and then recruit the person, regardless of age and gender who best fits the needs of the post.

Doing it your way could very easily lead to a claim for age or gender discrimination.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Deciding beforehand on the age and gender of your future employee4 shows that you really don't understand basic employment law. You need to decide on the skills and abilities that the post needs (and define exactly what the post is) and then recruit the person, regardless of age and gender who best fits the needs of the post.

Doing it your way could very easily lead to a claim for age or gender discrimination.

When the day comes that i'm served in an Indian restaurant by a bearded caucasian Dane i'll not only understand employment law, i'll believe it to be practical and enforceable

It's a regrettable reality that a 60 year old male former truck driver wouldn't be the best candidate to be head of reception in a young trendy female hairdressers but I stand to be corrected.

 

[Newchodge]

When the day comes that i'm served in an Indian restaurant by a bearded caucasian Dane i'll not only understand employment law, i'll believe it to be practical and enforceable

It's a regrettable reality that a 60 year old male former truck driver wouldn't be the best candidate to be head of reception in a young trendy female hairdressers but I stand to be corrected.

There is an exemption written into the law for ethnic restaurants to use a number of ethnic staff.

If a 60 year old former trucker meets the job requirements of reception in a trendy female hairdresser, which would include the ability to talk to young clients about their hairdressing needs, then he could be the best candidate.

 

[Charlie B ACS]

Brian Moore (Ex England Hooker & Rugby Commentator) is a Qualified Nail technician, and had his own business doing the same.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Brian Moore (Ex England Hooker & Rugby Commentator) is a Qualified Nail technician, and had his own business doing the same.

Moore's wife had a nail salon and he took a relevant qualification to assist when needed. Big difference

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

There is an exemption written into the law for ethnic restaurants to use a number of ethnic staff.

If a 60 year old former trucker meets the job requirements of reception in a trendy female hairdresser, which would include the ability to talk to young clients about their hairdressing needs, then he could be the best candidate.

Yes, but you and I know that in the real world that's unlikely which is why salon owners don't advertise vacant positions in Truckers Monthly. Unless they have a bottomless budget and time to interview everybody that applies

 

[Charlie B ACS]

Moore's wife had a nail salon and he took a relevant qualification to assist when needed. Big difference

Oh I agree it is a different situation, but proof that a "Pitbull" can work in that situation

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Oh I agree it is a different situation, but proof that a "Pitbull" can work in that situation

He's a former lawyer that happened to play Rugby, not a dog...lol