Recruiting for school site teams often relies on traditional assumptions about what a caretaker or site manager looks like. In partnership with TIB Services, many schools are now rethinking these assumptions to ensure they do not miss out on vital talent.
While traditional recruitment processes frequently look for physical vigour, this narrow focus means schools might be missing the very qualities that keep a building running safely. These include technical intuition, strategic problem solving and a seasoned approach to discipline.
Unconscious age bias is a barrier that hides in plain sight. The education sector has made huge progress with diversity and inclusion, but age is often the missing piece of the puzzle. In the world of school estates, this bias often suggests that site manager roles are only for younger people.
The truth is that with over 10 million people over the age of 50 in the UK workforce (source: Office for National Statistics), this group represents one of the most skilled and reliable talent pools. By overlooking them, schools are filtering out the highest levels of technical expertise and reliability.
The problem of benevolent bias
Ageism is not always obvious. It often appears as benevolent ageism, where people label older professionals as nice and gentle, but forget their technical sharpness and grit. As a result, they overlook a master technician who can overhaul a complex heating system, for example.
Why the over-50 demographic is a strategic advantage
At TIB Services, we have found that the over-50 demographic is often the secret weapon for a well-run school. These individuals are usually moving from high-pressure careers where they have spent decades building specific skills. We find that candidates from professions outside of the education sector are perfectly suited to the complexities of a school caretaker role.
- Engineering and trades: These professionals have a deep understanding of infrastructure. If they see a leaking pipe, for example, they can diagnose the root cause within an ageing system. This saves schools thousands in external call-out fees.
- Emergency services: Police and fire service veterans are used to strict rules and discipline. They are ideal for managing school health and safety compliance and emergency response.
- Military veterans: Ex-military personnel bring high levels of discipline and a proactive mindset. They ensure daily operations are handled with precision and the school environment remains secure.
Technical proficiency as a preventative tool
With school buildings getting older and budgets being stretched, the value of a site manager who can prevent a breakdown is huge. A professional with decades in the field offers several benefits.
- Technical intuition: They can often identify faults by sound or small changes in system performance. This is vital for maintaining older school buildings.
- Advanced problem solving: Having seen similar issues many times before, they resolve problems more efficiently and with a calm approach than those who are just starting out.
- Immediate value: They can step into a school on a short-term basis and provide immediate stability without the need for a lot of training.
How TIB Services can help
TIB Services finds professionals who have the right skills and values to thrive in a school environment. These are people who are often overlooked by traditional recruitment methods.
Reasons why schools and trusts partner with us:
- We value transferable skills and source candidates from trade, emergency service, military and engineering backgrounds.
- All our candidates are KCSIE pre-vetted and fully trained in school-specific health & safety, compliance and safeguarding, so they are ready to make an immediate impact.
- We provide reliable individuals for both permanent vacancies and temporary cover to ensure your school remains safe, compliant and welcoming.
Strengthen your site team with confidence. Find reliable, KCSIE-vetted caretakers who are ready to make a difference.
For more information, call 0333 772 9633, email helpdesk@tibservices.co.uk, or visit tibservices.co.uk
