- The youngest member of Peter Stewart’s Aberkill team is 55
- One company tried to poach his employee, 71, because of his exemplary reputation
The businessman revealed that all his company’s staff are over 50 because he believes older workers have more “brains” and know how to get things done.
Peter Stewart, 64, who runs pest control firm Aberkil in Aberdeenshire, denied he was prejudiced against young people, despite all his staff aged between 55 and 71.
He admitted that even though he was once accused of treating youth unfairly, he gives everyone an equal opportunity.
Peter, who also gigs as Louis Walsh, explained that pest control was not for the faint of heart, claiming he had previously hired 30-year-olds who couldn’t hack the job.
He added that in his experience, many young people are “shy” and unable to “look him in the eye”, while others are easily distracted by their phones, meaning they are unable to keep up with the fast pace of work.
MailOnline said: “They [older staff] he can look you in the eye and talk to you.
“I’ve found that a lot of young people are shy and there’s nothing wrong with that – they’re just not mature enough to interact with customers.
“I’m not saying it always works well, but the problems in the past were people in their 30s who couldn’t hack a job. You work all day.
‘It’s not time to sit and look at mobile phones or Facebook, it’s time for other work.’
Not only do you have to prepare for annoying and slimy pests, but according to the entrepreneur, you also have to prepare for customers from all walks of life.
“In our industry we deal with all kinds of people, very old people, young people, professionals, teachers, so maturity and trust are essential.”
Peter praised his “adaptable”, “magnificent” and “compassionate” team and admitted that he has “absolute confidence” in his staff and does not monitor them closely, despite having trackers.
“They jump in their van, the manager gives them their job description and they go and get on with it,” he said.
“I know it wouldn’t be right if I got customer complaints and touch wood, we don’t get a lot of them.
“I know some will follow their trackers all day and say why are you five minutes late – I couldn’t live like that.”
Although his senior staff run like a well-oiled machine, the pest business hasn’t always been easy for Peter.
Originally a one-man team, a former tank driver driving through divided Berlin in 1981 joined the industry after a troubled childhood and poor school results.
“I went to this funeral and my teacher was venting his frustration with us,” he said.
“It was the best thing that could have happened, and it all happened at the age of 27.
However, his first pest control business collapsed after a divorce at 42.
But after a few years living as a lorry driver in the metal cab of Porta, London, Peter returned to Aberdeen to start again.
Peter slowly built a new pest control service while reducing his truck driving hours from full-time to part-time – and even employed staff.
“I came back and got a van and thought it would just be me working, but it quickly grew. It was growing too fast,” he joked.
Although his business again proved fruitful, Peter had a close encounter with death, requiring a triple bypass at the age of 57.
Peter described it as ‘the most vulnerable moment of his life’ and said: ‘I had three blocked arteries. When I met the surgeon, they said, “You should be dead.”
After the ordeal, Peter was grateful not only for his health and ability to work, but also for his Aberkil team who helped him through.
“I had an ex-Navy supervisor at the time—a very intelligent guy—and he ran the business for me when I was in the hospital.
“He died at the age of 49. It broke my heart. It really hit home, especially at the age of 64.”
Tearfully recalling the good times with his former employee, he added: ‘I’d like to think that all my staff had a great time with me.’
And that’s because many of Peter’s employees are still interested in working for him, even though they are entitled to a pension.
Nathan, 71, came out of retirement because he was ‘bored’ and soon started working for Aberkil.
A former helicopter pilot in the Malaysian army has been called an “incredible worker” by his boss.
Peter said, “If I had ten worker lives, that would be labor. He’s a really great guy. Customers love him.
“After I put him up for a prize, someone tried to poach him – at the age of 70!”
Peter’s current supervisor, 57, is also a big “workaholic” and a “beater”, having sometimes rang him at 9pm at night while he was still at work.
But his newest addition to the team — a 55-year-old pest control worker — always feels like working and putting in overtime, according to the entrepreneur.
Another member of staff, formerly in the prison service, revealed he felt “too young” to call it a day in the world of work.
Peter believes that he would have a hard time getting a new job at his age, not to mention his 71-year-old employee.
“I probably wouldn’t have a chance, but I would urge employers to look at their age and not take older people for granted,” he told i daily.
“I know a lot of people in their 50s who have been laid off and think it’s the end of the world. Remember, many of us can and want to work and I encourage older people to never give up.
“We bring life experience, and that counts for a lot. Youth is wonderful, but it is not everything.’