LKL SERVICES

Almost half a century ago, Loring, King and Loring pioneered the provision of relief and contract milking staff to dairy farmers. Since then, LKL Services has progressively introduced and developed additional staff-based services to meet the ever changing needs of the agricultural industry and has gained an unrivalled reputation as the leading provider of high quality personnel to farming enterprises throughout the UK. Our close ties with a large number of farms, many of which have been using LKL services for over 20 years, reflects our total commitment to meeting the needs of individual farmers by providing staff with the right skills and motivation. LKL’s people expertise is also widely acknowledged by many of major farming industry’s institutions and government departments, which has led to numerous introductions and subsequent business relationships.

LKL’s network of field-based managers, supported by a small team of  specialists based at our Salisbury headquarters, is responsible for maintaining regular contact with farm owners and managers, providing help and advice on all aspects of farming personnel management.

LKL Contract Services

Guaranteed uninterrupted availability of labour.

LKL’s Contract Service avoids any staff problems arising from illness, accidents or unplanned absences. We guarantee to provide a suitable substitute within 12 hours of  the contract person being unavailable.

Guaranteed standards of work. Having set minimum performance levels, our local regional managers will make regular visits to ensure those levels are being achieved. In addition, all LKL contracts include full indemnity against proven negligence.

Assured vacant possession of accommodation. The accommodation you provide to LKL contract personnel is on the basis of a Service Occupancy, which means it is available for re-occupation on termination of the contract. Any costs incurred in gaining vacant possession are borne by LKL.

Costs of employment are known and predictable. As payments are linked to performance and are fixed for 12 months you can accurately forecast your labour costs for the year ahead. Other associated costs such as employers NI contributions, sick pay and relief staff costs are all eliminated. Your cash flow is also improved as the initial payment is not due until the fifth week of the contract commencement.

LKL Versatility

An LKL contract can be constructed to cover management systems of  livestock, as well as other forms of farm enterprise.

The choice is yours. From the selection of suitably qualified candidates we put forward, you choose the person or persons you feel best satisfy your requirements. Our help in making your choice is there if you need it.

Eliminates recruitment costs. We provide a choice of candidates from our own resources, thereby eliminating any recruitment costs you might otherwise have.

LKL Relief Services

Fully qualified relief staff .Our relief personnel have all been interviewed and assessed and their references checked. Only those who satisfy our high standards are included in our database. This ensures that the staff we provide are fully able to carry out the specific duties for which they will be employed.

Wide choice of staff capabilities. We can usually fill any type of relief vacancy, from general farm worker to farm manager.

Staff provision tailored to your needs. Relief staff can be available for as little as one week, or as long as extra help is needed.

One hourly rate. Whatever the agreed rate per hour, this will remain standard however many hours are worked, helping to keep your labour costs firmly under control.

Your safeguard. With LKL relief staff you have our assurance that we will stand surety for the quality of work undertaken.

Accommodation is not a problem. In the event that no accommodation is available for relief staff, LKL will organise suitable arrangements in the form of a mobile home or local bed and breakfast accommodation.

LKL puts you in control. Day-to-day supervision of LKL relief staff is left with you or your manager. However, our regional managers are always available to resolve any local difficulties.

LKL Staff  Recruitment

An LKL consultant will first visit you at your farm to carry out a professional appraisal of your labour requirements. This will include the drafting of job specifications, the development of suitable remuneration packages and establishing related employment conditions.

Once this stage has been completed, we will search through our register and draw up a short list of suitably qualified candidates that meet your requirements. In the event that no suitable candidates are  available, we will advise on an advertising strategy, including advertisement design and placement, and will conduct an initial screening of resulting applicants. We will also attend short-list interviews, providing guidance and support in terms of final selection and appointment of the successful candidate. You benefit by using LKL to recruit your permanent staff so you saves time.

Most vacancies can usually be filled from our register, avoiding the lengthy process of advertising the position and screening applicants you therefore save money. By utilising our expertise you can avoid the heavy expense involved in recruiting the wrong person you therefore minimise the risks. As people professionals we offer a guarantee on all placements made through LKL. In the event that a candidate proves to be unsuitable within the first month of service, then we will recruit a replacement free of charge.

 LKL  REALLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

SURVEY SHOWS UP RELIEF WORRIES

DAIRY producers opt for contract herd care for many reasons, but among the most important are the fact that it means they have no worries about finding relief staff to cover for sickness and holidays. This comes through in the results of a survey* carried out on behalf of LKL Services among users of herd care, non-users and contract herdsmen used by the company. Users were informed that the survey was being conducted on behalf of LKL, but it was carried out by a third party with confidentiality of the responses guaranteed. The difficulty of recruiting good herdsmen was also one of the main considerations in going down the contract route, while guaranteeing the vacant possession of farm cottages when the contract arrangement ends was also given a high priority. More than a quarter (26%) of users of LKL’s contract herd care believed it to cost about the same as employing someone directly, while a further 43% think it costs up to 9% more. It was felt to be less expensive by 2%.A full 60% of users surveyed agreed that the overall performance of their herd had improved since the move to contract herd care. Just over half thought it gave them less hassle with paperwork, while it allowed more than 40% to take a less active role in day to day management of the herd. Among non-users, only 16% would consider moving to a contract service if their current herdsman left. Their unprompted reasons for not doing so included a preference for direct labour, local staff and some thought it would be too expensive. Other concerns included continuity of labour, flexibility of contract workers, retaining full control over work and over cottages. Contractors who responded to the survey had been with LKL for an average of almost six years, had been in their current contract for an average of four years, with service ranging between one month and 27 years. The main attraction of contract work was the freedom of being self-employed. 

*staffing on dairy units — conducted on behalf of LKL Services by In-Touch Research Services. Non customers were found through the situations vacant pages of FARMERS WEEKLY and interviewed by phone to give 68 completed questionnaires. The identity of the instigator of the survey was not disclosed.