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  Claire Brown April 21, 2010 at 10:59pm

  i've never managed to get someone to do work experience from a college, I signed up to several schemes a couple of years ago, but those that phoned me either needed picking up to get somewhere, or could only work set hours (usually after 2pm, which is no use as I collect my son by 3.30, so finish at 2.45-3.00)- when I was 16 I got on a bus or cycled!
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  Dan Frazer Gardening April 22, 2010 at 6:24am

  Work experience is for their benefit, not ours. i.e. they are doing it to learn about a job, and to push them into physical labour is not fair. If you have time to sit and show them how the job works then take one on. If you want cheap labour, place a local ad!
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  Dave Sewell April 22, 2010 at 7:16am

  Have you ever actually employed anybody from a college Colin? In my experience colleges have zero interest in placing their students or encouraging local employers to take their students on. I can assure you that we put enormous effort into recruiting good staff, as does every other business. Making mistakes is just too expensive and disruptive.
  Dave
  www.gardenmaker.wordpress.com
  www.the-gardenmakers.co.uk
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    Classic Gardens > Dave Sewell April 22, 2010 at 7:31am

    I agree
    
    We employ people from our local hort collage. It's a work based scheme so the tutor comes out to to grade him while we are on a job which is great.
    The majority really do want to work and learn. The downside is they will want to set up on there own sooner or later.
    
    The goverment based ones are useless, We once got sent one who was sensetive to sunlight.
    I asked what he was ment to do when are 100% outdoors there reply he could do paper work in your van!!
    
    Dave Sewell said:

    Have you ever actually employed anybody from a college Colin? In my experience colleges have zero interest in placing their students or encouraging local employers to take their students on. I can assure you that we put enormous effort into recruiting good staff, as does every other business. Making mistakes is just too expensive and disruptive. Davewww.gardenmaker.wordpress.com
    www.the-gardenmakers.co.uk
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  Fenlandphil April 22, 2010 at 7:36am

  We have had lads on work experience from school, one on a really long term placement, as he was disruptive at school. Some were okay, some weren't, it is disruptive from a work point of view it is dificult to give them things to do where they can keep safe, yet get a feel of the work enviroment, particularly with a short term placement.
  I started work at aged fifteen, when I had finished work and got home, after having my tea and a bath all I wanted to do was sleep, it is easy to forget how tiring physical work is, when you have not done it before.
  One of my customers had a lad on work experience and he sorted out spread sheets and other bits and bobs on the computer, which made things a lot easier for him to run his business, his experience with this lad was wholly positive.
  Fenlandphil
  Seriousgardener
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  David Bloomer April 22, 2010 at 7:56am

  I've had 2 from a local school (the school are a client so i'm happy to help them out) the first is really disruptive in school but loves the work, he is currently doing 1 day a week with me till he can legally leave school, usually he is ready when i go to collect him and will graft all day, he's knackered when he gets home but school and his family reccon this is a good thing as it keeps him out of mischeif in the evenings... Somedays he's not so hot first thing but he's learning, he does need supervision to work effectively but then he's 16 so thats not a shock.
  
  The other one i had on a 2 week placement, day 1 and he was complaining day 2 he was sulking, day 3 he did bugger all, then he went sick, made it back in for the last day to see how we'd progressed in his absence...
  
  There not all bad but at 16 they do have little idea of what a days WORK actually entails.
  
  Fenlandphil said:

  We have had lads on work experience from school, one on a really long term placement, as he was disruptive at school. Some were okay, some weren't, it is disruptive from a work point of view it is dificult to give them things to do where they can keep safe, yet get a feel of the work enviroment, particularly with a short term placement.
  I started work at aged fifteen, when I had finished work and got home, after having my tea and a bath all I wanted to do was sleep, it is easy to forget how tiring physical work is, when you have not done it before.
  One of my customers had a lad on work experience and he sorted out spread sheets and other bits and bobs on the computer, which made things a lot easier for him to run his business, his experience with this lad was wholly positive.
  Fenlandphil
  Seriousgardener
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  Kirsty Blair April 22, 2010 at 9:33pm

  I think I have to learn patience! I still remember getting paid 50p an hr to pick the growing tip out of tomato plants!
  
  Work experience is meant to be work - or is that stating the obvious...
  
  My full time guys were getting pissed off with him watching us bust a gut and they did start ripping him to pieces - which he took well!
  
  It might be a long 5 months if he lasts that long!
  
  David Bloomer said:

  I've had 2 from a local school (the school are a client so i'm happy to help them out) the first is really disruptive in school but loves the work, he is currently doing 1 day a week with me till he can legally leave school, usually he is ready when i go to collect him and will graft all day, he's knackered when he gets home but school and his family reccon this is a good thing as it keeps him out of mischeif in the evenings... Somedays he's not so hot first thing but he's learning, he does need supervision to work effectively but then he's 16 so thats not a shock.
  
  The other one i had on a 2 week placement, day 1 and he was complaining day 2 he was sulking, day 3 he did bugger all, then he went sick, made it back in for the last day to see how we'd progressed in his absence...
  
  There not all bad but at 16 they do have little idea of what a days WORK actually entails.
  
  Fenlandphil said:

  We have had lads on work experience from school, one on a really long term placement, as he was disruptive at school. Some were okay, some weren't, it is disruptive from a work point of view it is dificult to give them things to do where they can keep safe, yet get a feel of the work enviroment, particularly with a short term placement.
  I started work at aged fifteen, when I had finished work and got home, after having my tea and a bath all I wanted to do was sleep, it is easy to forget how tiring physical work is, when you have not done it before.
  One of my customers had a lad on work experience and he sorted out spread sheets and other bits and bobs on the computer, which made things a lot easier for him to run his business, his experience with this lad was wholly positive.
  Fenlandphil
  Seriousgardener
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  Kieran Ray April 22, 2010 at 9:53pm

  I only really take on people from y old college. The lecturers still know me and know that people who don't pull their weight just piss me off so don't send them.
  
  As too the PlayStation comment, In theory I am of that generation, it is a very sad thing, I have a few 'mates' who are very much the stereotype. Its sad really. But most of my mates are hard working, I have a mete from school helping me atm as he is leaving uni and has not job.
  
  I know some one who uses the job centre scheme and he says you get some good and some bad, but most just want to do sod all.
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  Pip Howard April 22, 2010 at 10:42pm

  I've had a couple of good work experience students, but generally not so good. If any of you have requests for work from the Leonardo Di Vinci scheme, (usually Spanish), go for it - they are paid to come and work for you and are generally fantastic, also the French 'stagiers' from Angers, Versailles and Blois I can't recommend highly enough 11 hours per day solid graft and often for nothing. The main problem is that the education system in the UK has a whole puts little weight on the landscaping industry and results in some disappointing candidates for work experience.
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  Graham Parker April 25, 2010 at 4:10pm

  The classic has to be the YTS lad a mate of mine had. He had to show him how to use a broom.