Employ / subcontract / Apprentice?

[plumb_know]

Hi Everyone,

Really busy and working every night till 10pmish, have tried apprentices but find young ones feel they are doing me a favour & time keeping/attitude is a problem. older ones are ok but expect too high wage for what they are worth. I was hoping to take someone on as apprentice & train them to how i like things done then keep them on and grow like this, but finding it is not working that way.

Considering taking on fully qualified engineer, but if i do i am unsure whether to employ or try sub contracting. wondering how others have expanded their business? how/where would you recommend recruiting? Any advise?

Seems a lot of companies such as swale, pimlico etc sub their work, does anyone else do this? how do you protect against them stealing work & do you find this way reliable? good workmanship?

Ideally i would like to kit someone out with van, uniform etc but for them to deal with their tax etc as this seems to be what most companies are doing?

Advise appreciated

 

[Jim Goodenough]

Hello Plumb know,

Had any joy on your question elsewhere? I'm in same boat as you .

Cheers

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Finding good people is hard. Sub contract would be my choice ad they are running a business already and should be more likely to have a good attitude. Might be the first person or you may go through a few. Dont have to pay ni contributions, pensions, van, insurances, tools, training, you know the rest. Add all these things up and an employed person would cost around 35k plus per annum before you make anything. You could always take on a school leaver as government pay half the wages and helps with training funding too, but they will know very little and would take time to be useful, but could be great in the long run. It depends on your situation and job type. If you need someone to hit the ground running, either employ someone if you have enough "spare" work or sub what needs covered, as required, or get help on the installs you do to save time leaving more for....whatever.

 

[oz-plumber]

You can't have it both ways.
You can't kit someone out, give them a van and uniform because they will be deemed as as employee, not a sub contractor.
So you will have to be responsible for everything with employing a person.
As with apprentices, subbies can be hit and miss also.
It really is a tough situation.

Some guys like subbying because it takes the strain off them. Generally these ones, you have to pay higher than the average rate and pay them weekly.
I've just about given up on apprentices and are going to stick with well paid, promptly paid subbies.

I've trained enough kids and terminated employment of a fair few of them.
Maybe I'm old school and expect kids of today to have a thick enough skin and work ethic as they did 25 years ago.

 

[mfgs]

Ive been in this situation for a few years. I find subbies unreliable and slack the moment your back is turned. Everyone wants top wages for doing the bare minimum.
I suggest going the employed route. That way you are more guaranteed loyalty rather than a subby who will constantly be on the look out for better paid work and leave without giving you any notice.
Its more of a risk, but will be a better long term solution.

I have also had no luck with apprentices. No one wants to work anymore. Last two have quit because they thought it would be easy.

 

[plumb_know]

thanks everyone for replies, i have taken on a young apprentice that actually seems to have a good work attitude.

Hopefully it continues as i would like to train someone up and hopefully keep them on and build my business this way.

 

[Harvest Fields]

thanks everyone for replies, i have taken on a young apprentice that actually seems to have a good work attitude.

Hopefully it continues as i would like to train someone up and hopefully keep them on and build my business this way.

Where did you find him/her?

 

[plumb_know]

he rang me the day after i posted on here, which is good as showed he actually bothered to look for something. been with me couple of weeks and not been late yet.

 

[Jim Goodenough]

he rang me the day after i posted on here, which is good as showed he actually bothered to look for something. been with me couple of weeks and not been late yet.

Keep me / us posted Plumb Know, from time to time please.

 

[plumb_know]

will do

 

[Harvest Fields]

Hope it goes well. Not very excited about making that jump myself. As above please keep us updated