It is getting to the stage that bums on seats is going to be cheaper than buying a 500 k combine and having one bum on a seat a year . Getting staff is not that hard and if you are prepared to put a bit of time in there are plenty of youngsters who want to get experience to help start there careers but would not get a chance to learn as no one in their right mind would let them lose on a 500 k machine first off . As we work them in the same field usually us older boys help them out and keep an eye on them . That gives me a idea combine training courses they can pay and play . Win win Might be able to afford a holiday in Bournemouth .
We can't find decent staff so have altered the business to negate the need and we've saved ourselves the salary in the process. We had 4 come and start at varying times and 3 of them were totally useless and in fact dangerous. These were younger lads though not seasoned guys. We preserved with them but ultimately we could see it was an accident waiting to happen and something we did not want on our conscience so we let them go for their own safety. We were proven correct with one of them that went on to roll a fastrac just due to speeding.
The older guy was perfect but wanted £18/hour flat rate which we just couldn't justify as an annual cost because it would of been £50,000 per year.