Question time next week

Fella

The whole world cannot clean cars for a living but other people can create different types of jobs.

The point is that practically anyone is capable of creating a business/jobs if they actually make the effort to try.

You honestly talk as if you believe that the worlds large corporations appeared overnight & that more can be magically created overnight. Big cos start out as little cos created by people who would rather tey to do something about their situation than sit around waiting for someone else to do it for them.

If someone's goal is to be an employee that's fine. But if they can't find a job they want and can do then it's down to them to get some marketable skills or get off their jack & start their own business. No-one is owed a job.

Graham_Devon

Fella wrote: »

It is exactly as easy as that. I've cleaned cars and would do so again if the options were do that or moan about how unfair it is that there isn't a magic supply of jobs created by someone else.

This is a true story.

We had one bloke going around here. He had this cart that it looked like he had made from wheelchair wheels and some kind of trailer frame.

He kept on that ladders, buckets, paint, tools etc. He'd do anything, bar gardening.

Thing is, he was shut down by the council.

You can't walk around anymore with a cart. Theres regulations to follow. You can't simply pop up a ladder anymore on someone elses premises without being covered for insurance purposes.

I'm not looking to suggest people can't create jobs. What I am saying is that it appears much harder than just going out with a bucket and expecting the laws and regs not to apply to you.

I had a lot of respect for that bloke, but undercutting others while ignoring legislation / laws will have you reported by those doing the job properly quick sharpish.

chucky

ukcarper wrote: »

Yes it's as easy as that.

It's much easier to tell people do on an internet forum than actually do it.

Telling someone it's easy in a virtual world isn't reality despite their best attempts.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

This is a true story.
.

A young fellow I know was laid off a couple of years ago, and started his own dog walking service.

Printed flyers on his computer and dropped them through letter boxes.

Got a few clients, started dog walking. Got a few word of mouth referrals, walked some more dogs.

Ended up with 20 clients within the first 3 months, spending £30 a week each for him to walk their dogs while they were at work.

£600 a week, in cash.

So he does it by himself for a few months, thinks it's a great business, and buys a cheap 2nd hand van, grows a bit more, takes on another person, gets insurance, starts paying taxes, etc.

Now he's back in full time work, but keeps the business on the side.

Two bored housewives work part time for him, a few hours a day each while the kids are in school, he clears a grand a month after paying the staff and van and expenses, and does around 5 hours a week of organising, etc.

Another lad around here mows lawns in summer, charges £40 a month for a mow every 2 weeks, on small to medium lawns, makes enough from it to not have to work over winter. Doesn't need any equipment, all the houses have mowers.

Plenty of people also doing ironing, house cleaning, whatever. Easy services to set up that really don't need special licenses, qualifications, investment, etc.

Now obviously, not everyone can be a dog walker, cleaner, etc, but I think Fella is right when he says far more people could do something if they tried, or were motivated to do so.

ukcarper

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

A young fellow I know was laid off a couple of years ago, and started his own dog walking service.

Printed flyers on his computer and dropped them through letter boxes.

Got a few clients, started dog walking. Got a few word of mouth referrals, walked some more dogs.

Ended up with 20 clients within the first 3 months, spending £30 a week each for him to walk their dogs while they were at work.

£600 a week, in cash.

So he does it by himself for a few months, thinks it's a great business, and buys a cheap 2nd hand van, grows a bit more, takes on another person, gets insurance, starts paying taxes, etc.

Now he's back in full time work, but keeps the business on the side.

Two bored housewives work part time for him, a few hours a day each while the kids are in school, he clears a grand a month after paying the staff and van and expenses, and does around 5 hours a week of organising, etc.

Another lad around here mows lawns in summer, charges £40 a month for a mow every 2 weeks, on small to medium lawns, makes enough from it to not have to work over winter. Doesn't need any equipment, all the houses have mowers.

Plenty of people also doing ironing, house cleaning, whatever. Easy services to set up that really don't need special licenses, qualifications, investment, etc.

Now obviously, not everyone can be a dog walker, cleaner, etc, but I think Fella is right when he says far more people could do something if they tried, or were motivated to do so.

I also think that more people could do it than do but I don't see it as the solution to youth unemployment.

Loughton_Monkey

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

.......

Now obviously, not everyone can be a dog walker, cleaner, etc, but I think Fella is right when he says far more people could do something if they tried, or were motivated to do so.

I generally agree.

Look into the history of major companies, and you will keep bumping into the same theme. That of a single 'bloke' having the initiative to buy a barrow and sell fruit etc. Eventually, a very small percentage of these become a "Marks & Spencer" employing 10's of thousands and generally expanding with more jobs. I understand Billy Gates started with just a 'mate' and no premises. I think he made a few bob...

It's a relatively recent phenomenon that venture capitalists get together and create a 50-employee company from scratch.

Hence, for our long term future, the encouragement of 'one-man-band' businesses should be encouraged. Those little Somalian boys down my local Sainsbury's who wash your car for £6 while you're doing your shopping seem to be expanding. They'll be valet parking for you one day.....

A percentage of these will fail. Many, though, will at the very least keep the person occupied and financially secure. Probably 0.1%, though, will 'click' and become a 'big' business or even a multinational conglomerate one day.

I am about to start my own business. This area is too crowded with car washers and tree surgeons. So I'm going to be different. I offer to wash your trees, or take a chainsaw to your car if you want an open-top.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

ukcarper wrote: »

I also think that more people could do it than do but I don't see it as the solution to youth unemployment.

The solution to youth unemployment can only ever be economic growth leading to an increase in demand for labour.

According to the FSB, at the start of 2013:

• There were an estimated 4.9 million businesses in the UK which employed 24.3 million people, and had a combined turnover of £3,300 billion
  
• SMEs accounted for 99.9 per cent of of all private sector businesses in the UK, 59.3 per cent of private sector employment and 48.1 per cent of private sector turnover
  
• SMEs employed 14.4 million people and had a combined turnover of £1,600 billion
  
• Small businesses alone accounted for 47 per cent of private sector employment and 33.1 per cent of turnover
  
• Of all businesses, 62.6 per cent (3.1 million) were sole proprietorships, 28.5 per cent (1.4 million) were companies and 8.9 per cent (434,000) partnerships

So quite obviously entrepreneurship and the founding of more small businesses is a vital part of the equation.

ukcarper

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

The solution to youth unemployment can only ever be economic growth leading to an increase in demand for labour.

According to the FSB, at the start of 2013:

• There were an estimated 4.9 million businesses in the UK which employed 24.3 million people, and had a combined turnover of £3,300 billion
  
• SMEs accounted for 99.9 per cent of of all private sector businesses in the UK, 59.3 per cent of private sector employment and 48.1 per cent of private sector turnover
  
• SMEs employed 14.4 million people and had a combined turnover of £1,600 billion
  
• Small businesses alone accounted for 47 per cent of private sector employment and 33.1 per cent of turnover
  
• Of all businesses, 62.6 per cent (3.1 million) were sole proprietorships, 28.5 per cent (1.4 million) were companies and 8.9 per cent (434,000) partnerships

So quite obviously entrepreneurship and the founding of more small businesses is a vital part of the equation.

Yes I agree but that is not the same as saying everybody can just go out and set up a business.

IveSeenTheLight

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Basically, the audience will be split into two groups.

Under 30 year olds and over 60 year olds.
.

It seems they are missing a key factor in debating housing.
Those between 30 and 60.

Let's face it, over 60's will have already have determined their housing needs, it might have been better to have: -

Under 30's
30 - 40
40 - 50
Over 50's

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

ukcarper wrote: »

Yes I agree but that is not the same as saying everybody can just go out and set up a business.

I think the point being made is that almost anybody could set up their own small business walking dogs or washing cars or ironing clothes or whatever.

I'll agree with you that most won't.

But I really do believe it is within relatively easy reach of almost everyone.

And that the only real obstacle for most people is their lack of vision or drive, and possibly that as a society we make it too easy not to have to work to survive.