Finding a good yard manager - Impossible??

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Nic86

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Hi we have a large livery yard in West Yorkshire but can't seem to find a good yard manager. We are now even considering offering a company car to try and get somebody who will be commited. We've had a string of people who sounf great and then after a while can't even manage the day to day routine!

I will admit it's not the most glamorous job but when is working with horses ever? We have nice horses to ride and are happy for somebody to to use the facilities to run competition's ect. to to make extra income. We are struggling to find someone who is motivated and wants to work with horses for the love of horses and not just see the job as a wage.

Just wondered if anybody have any suggestion of where to look for staff or how to try and promote the job.
 
Take the reverse approach - what is there in the job for your yard manager? You need to attract and keep the right person, and so it must be a cut above the rest, somewhere, to attract them.

Wage: what everyone looks at first in a job. Is it competitive with other similar positions? Is it slightly higher so you're less likely to lose a good person?
Hours: are they manageable on basic tiredness, fair working conditions principles?
Work required: is it possible within the time limits given? Not just as a one-off, but day after day?
Money for maintenance/buying hay/feed etc: is it there? Can they do their job properly because the funds are available when necessary?
You as a boss: are you fair, approachable and friendly?
Days off/holidays: national rules for employed personnel are a month off, paid, per year. Do you offer this? What days during the week are required? Do they actually get a proper day off?
 
Hi they get 2 days a week off and have to work 1 weekend in 3 or 4 depending on how many staff we have at the time. Hours of work are 8 til 5 week days and 9 til 5 weekends and they finish at 4 on bank holidays.

We fall in with all the requirements for holidays ect.

The yard manager would not need to worry about budgets ect as we produce all our own hay and straw ect and I deal with all the billing. They can use what they need as they need it and the farm staff top up the hay and straw for them.

We need somebody who can arrange a rota though and manage the other staff. We have 2 NVQ level 2 and one level 3. They are all competant and bright.
 
I will be blunt.......you need a MATURE candidate. Im afraid in general the younger college leaver type does not have the work ethic. There are some that do but IME they are few and far between.

Dont be swayed by qualifications. You can have NVQs up to your armpits and still be in it for the money.
 
We have the NVQ's to train but need a yard manager above them. They don't need any qualifications but must have life experience to deal with the various tasks the job involves.

We are in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
 
Wish you were in Hampshire. I'm looking for a position like that, am definitely mature and would love a position like that. Spent 12 yrs working with horses, retrained in Law and Project Management but now want to go back. Unfortunately OH job won't enable us to move !!!
 
Same here, we are in the Mildands & I know several people that would jump for a job like this - I know some people that work full time for a yard but they have to be self employed therefore no holidays & or holiday pay !! I am amazed that people still get away with this xx
 
pansy said:
- I know some people that work full time for a yard but they have to be self employed therefore no holidays & or holiday pay !! I am amazed that people still get away with this xx
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If this is the only place they work the inland revenue take a very dim view of the 'self employed' status. Their 'employer' is taking a risk by forcing this phoney status on their employees.
 
a good wage, accommodation, a car etc will all make the job more appealing. as will the ability to take own horse/dog/cat. wages will determine the applicants, bonuses/extras will fine tune the applicants. good luck. could you not promote in house? and do a bit of management yourself? a wage increase to the level 3 to manage and a increase in wage for the level 2's and get a couple of level 1/gofers to lighten the load may be a cheaper option. give your staff the opportunity to raise their game as they already know the yard and the routine and the horses. good luck
 
Sounds like a good job with decent employers... what will be limiting your application base is no accommodation.

There are plenty of qualified people who would be willing to relocate I think...including me if I didn't have an entourage of horses lol
 
spaniel said:
I will be blunt.......you need a MATURE candidate. Im afraid in general the younger college leaver type does not have the work ethic. There are some that do but IME they are few and far between.

Dont be swayed by qualifications. You can have NVQs up to your armpits and still be in it for the money.
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ooh spaniel, that is not pc, lol, but you are correct, there are loads of peeps out there looking for work, but are not applying for jobs, because the advert mentions "young team " etc.
Also at interview, the interviewer is often uncomfortable dealing with a mature and confident manager.
 
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