Here’s a quote on which I like you to ponder
“Young people should be prepared to work in menial jobs in hospitals, agriculture and construction, but only if employers ensure they are stepping stones to a skilled career”.
These are the words of Nick Stace, newly appointed CEO of the Prince’s Trust. He was commenting on research by the charity that found that confidence levels about job prospects was at a record low amongst under 25s.
Whilst the sentiment is spot-on, what troubles me is the use of the word ‘menial’. There is nothing menial about working in a hospital, or on a farm, or on a construction project. It is a question of perception. Some of these jobs are classified (in the eye of the beholder) as menial, but in many instances, not only can they play a vital role in the business, particularly a small business, but be the first steps to a long-term career.
Let me ask you?
How many times have you taken on a young person for one of these, so-called, ‘menial’ jobs to find that he or she has shown enthusiasm, willingness to listen and learn, responsibility, common-sense and to be a real ‘fit’ with work colleagues? Very few school leavers can possibly have the work-ethic at the outset. They can only demonstrate their worth and their ambition when placed in a ‘live’ work environment.
But where Mr Stace is absolutely correct is to recognise that employers must ensure that those formative days, months and years should be carefully monitored and nurtured by the employer.
For much of the time, perception gets in the way of reality. For instance, ask Joe Public for their description of a ‘groundsman’ and images of forks, white-line painting and boring mowing dominate their thinking. Yet the skill sets of a professional groundsman encompass science, agronomy, chemistry, turf management, meteorology, engineering - all mixed with a healthy dose of diplomacy, stoicism and an extremely hard-skin.
Dealerships up and down the land are full of success stories of those who started at the bottom, and who have risen through the ranks because of their positive and ‘can-do’ attitude.
Our industry is not an ‘easy-sell’. We are too diverse for it to be packaged into an easily recognisable career. The closest we have got an all-embracing description is ‘land-based engineering’ - and that mouthful rarely gets anybody near our real identity.
As you will see below, for the past couple of months I’ve been working with the various industry bodies to produce a new careers brochure. It’s been quite a challenge. ‘Too many tractors, not enough mowers, don’t forget dairy, how about drones, remember forestry, where are the robots?, can’t leave out ATVs . . .’
In the end, it’s all about getting noticed. A parting of the curtains on what is a fascinating, diverse, opportunistic industry - and full of rich promise.
Editor Steve Gibbs is away this week, visiting dealers in Scotland
