A businessman has revealed that all of his company’s staff are over 50, as he believes older workers have more “sense” and know how to get things done.
Peter Stewart, 64, who runs pest control company Aberkil in Aberdeenshire, has denied being prejudiced against young people despite all his workers being between 55 and 71 years old.
He admitted that, although he was once accused of treating young people unfairly, he gives everyone the same opportunities.
Peter, who also acts as a Louis Walsh look-alike, explained that pest control was not for the faint-hearted and claimed he had previously hired 30-year-olds who couldn’t do the job.
He added that in his experience, many young people are “shy” and can’t “look you in the eye”, while others are easily distracted by their phones, meaning they can’t keep up with the fast pace of work.
Peter Stewart (pictured), 64, who runs pest control company Aberkil in Aberdeenshire, divulged that his people tend to be older because they bring a sense of “maturity” and “confidence” to the company.
Although some have questioned whether he has a preference for older staff, the Aberkill boss insists it all comes down to the interview.
He told MailOnline: ‘They (senior staff) can look you in the eye and talk to you.
“I think a lot of young people are shy and there’s nothing wrong with that: they just haven’t matured, they can’t communicate with customers.”
‘I’m not saying it works well all the time, but the problems in the past have been people in their 30s not being able to do the job. You’re working all day.
“There’s no time to sit and stare at your phone or Facebook, you have to move on to the next job.”
According to the businessman, you not only have to be prepared for annoying and slimy pests, but also for customers from all walks of life.
“In our industry we deal with all types of people, very old people, young professionals and teachers, so maturity and trust are essential.”
Praising his “adaptable”, “magnificent” and “compassionate” team, Peter confessed that he has “absolute trust” in his employees and does not monitor them closely despite having trackers.
“They get in their truck, the supervisor gives them their workload and they move on,” he said.
“I think a lot of young people are shy and there’s nothing wrong with that; they just haven’t matured, they can’t communicate with customers,” he said.
‘I know it wouldn’t go well if I received complaints from customers and knock on wood, we don’t get many of them.
“I know some will look at their trackers all day and say, ‘Why were you five minutes late? I couldn’t live like that.'”
Although his older workforce runs like a well-oiled machine, the pest industry business hasn’t always been easy for Peter.
Originally a one-person team, the former tank driver, who in 1981 drove through a divided Berlin, joined the industry after a troubled childhood and poor school performance.
“I went to this funeral and one of my teachers expressed his frustrations with us,” he said.
“It was the best thing that could have happened to me and everything turned out well when I was 27 years old.”
However, his first pest control business collapsed after he divorced at the age of 42.
But after a few years living as a truck driver in a portable metal cabin in London, Peter returned to Aberdeen to start again.
Peter confessed that he has “absolute confidence” in his team and rarely supervises them because they simply “get on with it” with the job at hand.
Little by little, Peter created a new pest control service while reducing his truck driving hours from full-time to part-time, and even hired staff.
‘I came back and took the van and thought it would just be me working, but it grew quickly. She grew up too fast,” she joked.
Although his business was proving fruitful once again, Peter experienced a close brush with death and required a triple bypass at age 57.
Peter described it as “the most vulnerable time of his life”: “I had three blocked arteries.” When I met a surgeon they said, “You should be dead.”
After the ordeal, Peter was not only grateful for his health and ability to work, but also for his team at Aberkil, who helped him through.
“At the time I had a former Navy supervisor, a very smart guy, and while I was in the hospital, he ran the business for me.
‘He died at 49 years old. He broke my heart. “It really hit me, especially me, who is 64 years old.”
Recalling through tears the good times with her former employee, she added: “I would like to think that all my employees have had a great time with me.”
However, his journey in pest control has not always been easy as he was forced to close his first business after a divorce and financial problems (file image)
However, he recovered quickly after a short spell as a lorry driver in London and his team grew rapidly (stock image of cockroaches).
And it’s true that many of Peter’s employees are still eager to work for him despite being eligible for retirement.
Nathan, 71, came out of retirement because he was “bored” and soon began working for Aberkil.
The former Malaysian Army helicopter pilot has been described as “an incredible worker” by his boss.
Peter said: ‘If I had ten workers in that life, what a workforce! He’s a great guy. Customers love it.
“After I nominated him for an award, someone tried to steal it from him… at the age of 70!”
Peter’s current supervisor, 57, is also a big “workaholic” and “hard worker” as he sometimes called him at 9pm while he was still at work.
But his latest addition to the team, a 55-year-old pest control worker, is always willing to work and put in overtime, according to the businessman.
One company even tried to steal from a 71-year-old member of its team because his reputation among customers was so exemplary (file image).
Another staff member who was previously in the prison service revealed he felt “too young” to call it quits on the world of work just yet.
Peter believes he would have a hard time getting a new job at his age, let alone his 71-year-old employee.
“You probably wouldn’t stand a chance, but I urge employers to look beyond age and not think that older people are finished,” he told i.
‘I know a lot of people in their fifties who are being made redundant and who think it’s the end of the world. Don’t forget, many of us can and want to work, and I urge older people to never give up.
‘We bring life experience and that counts for a lot. Youth is wonderful, but it is not everything.