Meet Art who places mature age job seekers into employment roles.

We are on the quest to interview business owners over the age of 60. This week we visit Northern Rivers in New South Wales and chat with Art Beavis who is founder of SilverTemp Pty. Ltd which is a local job service provider that places mature age job seekers into part-time and casual administrative, retail and clerical roles.

Can you tell me a little bit about your business and what you do?

SilverTemp Pty. Ltd  was started in 2010 due to a realisation that seniors were being overlooked by the Centrelink system. We operate as a private enterprise labour hire service to local SME’s who need staff to cover for vacation, sick leave and extra busy periods.

What motivates you to keep working after 60?

I started the business at age 70 following my retirement from full time employment as international marketing manager for a large macadamia processing company in Lismore. It was an opportunity to do something productive in the local economy and stay stimulated into my retirement years. Networking has always been a special interest of mine.

What do you like most about having your own business?

Freedom to run the business my way and make decisions without the influence of a board of directors who answer to the shareholders.

Secondly, customer service and communication toward problem solving is a high priority in all my business dealings over 50 years and has been a major contributor to my success.

What have been some of the struggles you have faced with running your own business?

In the early days, convincing business owners and managers that mature age people are not “past their use by date” and still have a great deal to offer their business. There is still a bias toward older workers and a discrimination factor.

Economic factors bring pressure on the prices we can charge per hour and it is always a struggle to find the right balance so the business manager can afford extra staff.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learnt in life?

Be pleasant to everyone because you never know who might be your next biggest customer

Always communicate effectively by listening twice as much to your prospect/client as you talk about your product or service.

People buy what your product does for them and price is not generally a problem if this is what you are selling.

Business is people interacting with others for their mutual benefit; that’s what makes the world go around.

What advice would you give to the younger generation?

Learn and practice the fine art of communication with others as it will stand you in good stead all through your life, stop sending text messages on your mobile phone and talk to people instead.

If you could jump into a time machine what era would you visit and why?

I wouldn’t go back in time because I’ve already been there but I would like to jump forward 25 years to see what advances we will be making in the future to make the world a better place for everyone to survive and thrive.

Anything else you would like to add?

I wouldn’t trade my life experiences for anything. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the successes and the failures along the way as both have been the building blocks of my career and my personality. I may not be wealthy but I do not have any enemies and no regret. Life is good.

Have a look at my website at www.silvertemp.com