Part of my role as the Automotive Industry Workforce Advisor (IWA), is to promote opportunities for businesses to access Queensland Government programs. One successful program is the Human Resources (HR) Grants Program. In this article, I will introduce you to a business that has benefited significantly by accessing a grant from this program.
Jase Pearson from Pearson Automotive has built a successful automotive repair business in the inner Brisbane suburb of Milton. He has owned the business for 18 years and has had steady growth and expansion in that time.
One problem that Jase identified, which was hindering business growth, was that he was finding it difficult to retain staff. He contacted me to assist him develop a workforce plan. Together, we formulated a plan to develop attraction/retention strategies, and we identified some system upgrades. Jase identified that he needed help and applied for a DESBT HR grant. He engaged with HR consultant Jordan Lowry from Blackstone Business Group, who worked with Jase on the identified issues.
With the help of the grant, Jace and Jordan developed a strategy based on the principles of building team cohesion. Every person in the business plays a key role. There are standout players, i.e. those who take on big, visible tasks, but you also have other team members whose roles might seem smaller or less flashy. However, the strength of the team comes from every person playing their part.
“We used this concept to educate the team, helping them understand how interconnected their roles are. One way we reinforced this was by introducing the MVP (most valuable player) system.”
The MVP system works by allowing all staff to vote at the end of the month for a colleague who has made their job easier or gone above and beyond their normal requirements in the business. It is a peer driven recognition system, so the employees themselves get to highlight who contributed most positively to the team’s success that month.
“Since launching this system, we have seen real improvements in both attendance and morale. The $250 monthly bonus has been a great motivator,” said Jase. Recently, when the team worked under intense pressure, Jase decided to give the bonus to the entire team as a thank-you for their hard work.
“This system has been incredibly effective in fostering a sense of teamwork and appreciation, and it’s something we plan to keep building on” said Jase. “Working with Kelvin and Jordan has re-energized me and my staff.”
The HR Grants program is available to anyone interested in developing systems that will support improved culture and better systems to enhance employee engagement. If this sounds like something that your business could benefit from, reach out and I will help you connect with the program.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (October 2024)
18 October 2024
The Industry Workforce Advisor program is funded by the Queensland Government as part of the Good People, Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.