“So I need to send out 20 creative kits but I haven’t made up my stock yet, I should have 100 kits ready to go, I should promote my workshop and I should be sorting out my social media, I have funding applications to complete, there is so much to do.”

There were so many ‘shoulds’ in the conversation.

One of the things that I learnt early in my career is that the ‘ To Do’ list never ends. We have to prioritise what needs doing and focus on one thing at a time. I knew that the conversation that I had with a potential client was a true sign that she needed some help, she’d reached critical mass and needed someone to delegate to so that she could focus on her clients and creative pursuits, not to mention her children and family.

The call had started because this lovely lady wanted to get an apprentice to develop and help her out, but as the ‘shoulds’ came out, we discussed all of the different options for her:

· Intern

· Apprentice

· Contractor

· Virtual Assistant

· Employee

It’s important to decide what you want to delegate or outsource, and if it is a short or long term need. Your budget will also play a part but remember that you don’t have to commit to a full-time resource.

Interns – Are great for a short to mid-term projects. Generally, you’d have them for 3-6 months at minimum wage and sometimes you just cover expenses.

Apprentices – Are studying while gaining work experience. Apprenticeships last between 12- 24 months. Generally, apprentices either work 4 days per week and go to college one day a week or they may study in 1-week blocks every 5/6 weeks. The work that you give them to do, should be aligned to their course. There is assistance from the government for apprentices if your annual pay bill is less than £3 million. You can offer your apprentice permanent role at the end of their traineeship.

Contractor – They come with the skills that you need to hit the ground running, great for delivering a project but will have a higher day or hourly rate.

Virtual Assistant – Great for getting your admin/accounts/social media/etc sorted. Generally, pay based on an hourly or project basis. A safe pair of hands for mid-long term

Employee – This should be a long term addition to your team, but if you are a business that relies on funding then a fixed-term contract that is aligned to the funding would be advisable. You are responsible for training, pension contributions, etc but you have someone to grow with your business.

If you are ready to build or grow your team and what to discuss your options, schedule a FREE Team strategy Call