Poaching

[Wiredspark]

One side of my business is PV installations. Recently I got contacted off a "non-electrical" company wanting to sell the entire product and our guys to wear their uniforms and drive their vans and we'd get the labour cost of the job.
They have promissed (what I believe to be slightly enhanced) weekly sales targets, where I would enjoy a healthy profit but, I have some reservations about this. Our guys are all experienced approved electricians, MCS trained and experienced in PV.
It would be easy for these guys to poach my trained staff. They would be able to evaluate over a period of time who they would want to take on (i.e. the most experienced). They would already be in uniform and they would have kitted out vehicles in place. I would have no access to customer base and no contact with the client and they as I would (being a businessman) have through "innocent conversation" enquiries into their payrates look to offer them positions.
I know I can indemnify myself with a contract with the "new sales client" as it's only illegal to prevent someone from gaining fulltime employment. but if the person already has a full time job you are not preventing this.
Am I being paranoid or have I answered my own stupid question and tell them "stick your offer where in this case the sun ain't gonna shine and you aint gonna get a return off me over 25 years!"?

whats your thoughts???

 

[alarm man]

something simple like you steal my lads and you pay me 50k per spark you take,sign it or do one..

 

[Wiredspark]

I should add that I also worked in recruitemnt and a 50K bond wouldn't hold up in court regardless of the contract. 13weeks Sallery is more likey. But thanks for the input alarm man.

 

[alarm man]

I should add that I also worked in recruitemnt and a 50K bond wouldn't hold up in court regardless of the contract. 13weeks Sallery is more likey. But thanks for the input alarm man.

if the both of you sign it as a legal document i cant see how it wouldnt stand up in court..failing that he's just gonna pull your pants down and walk away with your staff,you could tell the other co to wear your uniform and drive your vans and give them a cut of the work they bring in...seems to me your just seeing £££ in your eyes,why should you take the risk,you have the business and the lads..

 

[Wiredspark]

I agree with you mate. It seems Im taking all the risk. They don't hold the MCS, I do. They don't have the experience or the initial install they need for MCS, I do. I'm just looking to see if others agreed.

 

[Wiredspark]

if the both of you sign it as a legal document i cant see how it wouldnt stand up in court.

Signed or not, courts will not honour an unreasonable contract. Trust me on this.

 

[alarm man]

I agree with you mate. It seems Im taking all the risk. They don't hold the MCS, I do. They don't have the experience or the initial install they need for MCS, I do. I'm just looking to see if others agreed.

cant see the debate,its a big NO,seems they are trying to cream off your business and knowledge for their own gain..turn the table is what i say..

 

[alarm man]

Signed or not, courts will not honour an unreasonable contract. Trust me on this.

i trust no one..,one mans meat is another mans poison..so what is classed as unreasonable?

 

[Big n Daft]

Tell them to go weed their smelly a$$e$.
Just another bunch of sales leeches. All you have to do is network and get yourself to the decision makers, then do your stuff. No need for these parasites taking advantage of your certification and expertise.

 

[Wiredspark]

i trust no one..,one mans meat is another mans poison..so what is classed as unreasonable?

two years sallery for one man when they only need give me 1 months notice to resign

 

[accordfire]

One side of my business is PV installations. Recently I got contacted off a "non-electrical" company wanting to sell the entire product and our guys to wear their uniforms and drive their vans and we'd get the labour cost of the job.
They have promissed (what I believe to be slightly enhanced) weekly sales targets, where I would enjoy a healthy profit but, I have some reservations about this. Our guys are all experienced approved electricians, MCS trained and experienced in PV.
It would be easy for these guys to poach my trained staff. They would be able to evaluate over a period of time who they would want to take on (i.e. the most experienced). They would already be in uniform and they would have kitted out vehicles in place. I would have no access to customer base and no contact with the client and they as I would (being a businessman) have through "innocent conversation" enquiries into their payrates look to offer them positions.
I know I can indemnify myself with a contract with the "new sales client" as it's only illegal to prevent someone from gaining fulltime employment. but if the person already has a full time job you are not preventing this.
Am I being paranoid or have I answered my own stupid question and tell them "stick your offer where in this case the sun ain't gonna shine and you aint gonna get a return off me over 25 years!"?

whats your thoughts???

To be honest, it sounds like a crap deal.

Let me get this right.....a bunch of telesales guys (probably headed up by some "ex" UK sales manager or director) want to "buy in" all your experience, skill, and know how, in return for what is effectively a commission - on work you might well locally have got yourself, with a bit of slightly different thinking?

You're effectively folding your business into theirs, putting on their unfiorm, driving their vans, paying THEIR wages, and um......in a year's time, where is YOUR business?

Smack dat!

Two things - (1) - invest in some kind of sales and marketing campaign - even something as simple as getting your guys to leafelt up three houses either side of the job they're on.

(2) If you can stretch to it - buy in your own sales guy - £10k basic, say, and 5% of GP on each sale.....buy him a 5 year old Corsa, or Fiesta, and sign write the hell out of it. Target him at between £250k and £500k p/a gross - what's that, around 16-32 sales? More if the area will bear it out - and put him on some courses once he's pulled in a few and passed his probation. Your business will be the one with the name and recognition in a year - not the one offering to buy you out by stealth, which is what that offer seems to be to me.

 

[alarm man]

buy him a 5 year old Corsa, or Fiesta, and sign write the hell out of it. Target him at between £250k and £500k p/a gross -

that'll work like..

 

[accordfire]

that'll work like..

Ummmm.....why wouldn't it?

There's a ton of at least passable salesmen out there ready to jump at it.....or did the recession suddenly end and we're all raking it in again?