Thinking about taking an apprentice on.
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm thinking about taking on an apprentice to learn the ins and outs of running a building company.
The aim is to eventually take a back seat in the run down to retirement.
Has anyone done anything similar ( either as a boss or an employee) and can offer some advice?
I'm tempted to take advantage of the grant scheme available to sent them to college one day a week.
I thought that if I start looking now, it gives me a chance to find the right person before the new courses start in September.
I'm thinking about taking on an apprentice to learn the ins and outs of running a building company.
The aim is to eventually take a back seat in the run down to retirement.
Has anyone done anything similar ( either as a boss or an employee) and can offer some advice?
I'm tempted to take advantage of the grant scheme available to sent them to college one day a week.
I thought that if I start looking now, it gives me a chance to find the right person before the new courses start in September.
fouronthefloor said:
Hi All,
I'm thinking about taking on an apprentice to learn the ins and outs of running a building company.
The aim is to eventually take a back seat in the run down to retirement.
Has anyone done anything similar ( either as a boss or an employee) and can offer some advice?
I'm tempted to take advantage of the grant scheme available to sent them to college one day a week.
I thought that if I start looking now, it gives me a chance to find the right person before the new courses start in September.
Apprenticeships can be great. But, forget the apprenticeship for the moment and if you had to hire somebody now to do what you want what wold that person look like? What of skills, experience, background will they need to not only cope but to succeed and build the business. Is an inexperienced apprentice really going to be the answer? I'm thinking about taking on an apprentice to learn the ins and outs of running a building company.
The aim is to eventually take a back seat in the run down to retirement.
Has anyone done anything similar ( either as a boss or an employee) and can offer some advice?
I'm tempted to take advantage of the grant scheme available to sent them to college one day a week.
I thought that if I start looking now, it gives me a chance to find the right person before the new courses start in September.
Of course, the bigger picture here is succession planning. There is no one size fits all answer here as each company or organisation is different.However, most start with some sort of performance management system where you can assess competency and skill.
The advantage of the apprentice is, in my view, that they can be moulded early on to achieve the right mindset.
I've employed many people in the past with varying degrees of success. Attitudes towards work and other people (particularly customers' demands) need to be taught.
Retirement is 15 years away so taking on an experienced manager now would remove my role.
With an abundance of work in my area, most of the suitable candidates are more than likely to be running their own operations or come from corporate backgrounds.
I've employed many people in the past with varying degrees of success. Attitudes towards work and other people (particularly customers' demands) need to be taught.
Retirement is 15 years away so taking on an experienced manager now would remove my role.
With an abundance of work in my area, most of the suitable candidates are more than likely to be running their own operations or come from corporate backgrounds.
Couple of things come to mind: apprentices no longer have an age bracket so make sure you're aware of that and it's possibly a leap of faith to hire one with the outlook they'll take over as manager as they will undoubtedly have options to leave.
In your situation and with only the limited insights you've given; if it can't be handed down to a family member, then selling the business may be a more favourable option.
In your situation and with only the limited insights you've given; if it can't be handed down to a family member, then selling the business may be a more favourable option.
Unfortunately, without wishing to sound arrogant, the business in it's present state, isn't worth anything without me.
I have a handful of directly employed labourers and I use skilled trade subcontractors.
All admin and management is carried out by me and I don't want to encourage my kids into the business - there are far easier ways of making money.
About 15 years ago I put a lad through college and he's now running his own outfit, so I can see your point about staff retention.
Maybe it is time to employ a manager and free myself up to develop the business into a saleable product.
I have a handful of directly employed labourers and I use skilled trade subcontractors.
All admin and management is carried out by me and I don't want to encourage my kids into the business - there are far easier ways of making money.
About 15 years ago I put a lad through college and he's now running his own outfit, so I can see your point about staff retention.
Maybe it is time to employ a manager and free myself up to develop the business into a saleable product.
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