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Rest Less is more than just a job board for the over 50s. We connect our partners with top talent from the UK’s valuable pool of mature workers, help improve each organisation’s diversity and culture, and break down stigmas surrounding over 50s in the wider world of work.
One partner we’re particularly proud to work with is TIB Services, the UK’s first and only specialist recruitment agency for school caretakers and site managers.
TIB Services provides agency supply cover and permanent recruitment for school estate roles across the education sector. With a head office team of over 25 people and a candidate network of over 12,000 skilled individuals, they’ve built a trusted reputation for finding reliable caretakers quickly, in as little as two weeks.
“For schools, we’re really about finding reliable caretakers because that’s actually something that’s incredibly difficult and time-consuming for their senior leadership teams,” explains Laura Storey, Sales and Marketing Director at TIB Services. “We cut out that time and disruption.”
The problem – quality candidates were impossible to find at scale
When TIB Services was founded, recruitment focused primarily on retired career police officers. These individuals perfectly matched the skills profile needed for school caretaking: a deep understanding of safeguarding and experience working within their communities. But during the COVID pandemic, demand surged. Schools across the country were reaching out for support, and TIB’s candidate network wasn’t large enough to meet this growing need.
The company faced a difficult decision: how to expand its recruitment reach without compromising the trusted reputation they had worked hard to build.
“We couldn’t provide cover quickly and at scale, which is important because when schools need a caretaker, it’s often a distress purchase,” says Laura. “If schools experience delayed or unfilled roles, it would undermine the reputation we’d built.”
Attempts to recruit through generalist job boards proved frustrating. While these platforms delivered high volumes of applicants, the quality was poor. Many candidates weren’t even based in the UK, creating a mountain of sifting work that yielded almost no suitable candidates. Ghosting rates were high, and applicants often dropped off before completing the process.
The insight – over 50s had exactly what schools needed
To thrive in a school support role, you need a particular blend of skills and qualities: practical DIY abilities, strong communication, the capacity to stay calm under pressure, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
But, above all, successful caretakers share a genuine commitment to supporting their local community.
“Schools absolutely need people they can rely on who can see a problem, stay calm, have that ‘been there, done it before’ attitude and just turn their hand to it,’ Laura explains. ‘As a caretaker, you’re a real part of that school’s social fabric. You’re the first person there in the morning, often the last to leave, and a key person that teachers rely on to fix problems so they can focus on teaching.”
TIB Services found that workers over 50, particularly those from the armed forces, emergency services, engineering and trades, consistently brought these attributes. The key discovery was that what united their best candidates wasn’t necessarily a policing background, but dedication to community. This insight opened the door to partnering with Rest Less.
The partnership – taking a leap of faith with Rest Less
In spring 2022, TIB Services began working with Rest Less. “It took a big leap of faith for our MD to partner with Rest Less originally,” Laura admits.”We had little data and were a niche recruitment company, with no guarantee of what results we would see. We also had a trusted reputation that we needed to protect. However, the risk is definitely one that has paid off.”
It quickly became clear that candidates coming through the Rest Less network possessed exactly the skills and values TIB was looking for. Beyond access to our network of over one million members, TIB Services has valued the partnership’s collaborative nature. They’ve used the jobs board for direct candidate generation, leveraged content marketing through company profiles, case studies and career transition advice, and participated in Rest Less webinars on age-inclusive workplace practices.
“It doesn’t feel transactional, it feels more collaborative, which is really nice,” says Laura. “You come to us frequently with ideas, and it was an absolute honour to be asked to be a panel member on the age-inclusive practices in the workplace webinar.”
The impact – 600% growth and stronger quality
In the first year of the partnership, TIB Services saw a 600% increase in the number of applicants joining their candidate pool per month, compared to the previous year. This growth allowed them to successfully complete more school enquiries, reduce time-to-fill for vacancies, and begin exploring more automated fulfilment processes.
While TIB Services was initially concerned that widening their recruitment net might dilute their candidate standards, the opposite proved true. A total of 97% of placed candidates have been rated as ‘excellent’ by the schools they support. “We were worried that expanding our recruitment net would reduce the quality of candidates,” Laura says. “But actually, we’re really pleased to see that quality has remained high, and that’s reflected in the feedback we get from our schools.”
Candidates from Rest Less show lower ghosting rates, progress through the application process more reliably, and consistently achieve higher ratings in TIB’s candidate screening system. The Rest Less cost-per-hire has become the benchmark against which TIB Services measures all other recruitment sources.
Building confidence and capability beyond the numbers
The partnership has delivered benefits that extend beyond candidate numbers. Participating in Rest Less’s webinar series inspired TIB Services to explore hosting their own webinars for schools. “I kept saying to Nick, ‘No great things happen in the comfort zone,”‘ Laura recalls. “I’m going to do it, and then I’ll be confident for the next time because I know how it works. You opened the door, and we walked through it.”
The relationship has also been genuinely two-way. TIB Services has challenged Rest Less to think differently about our platform and processes, contributing ideas that have shaped new developments benefiting our wider partner network.
What other employers can learn
When asked what she would say to employers in other sectors considering whether Rest Less could work for them, Laura is clear: “If you want resilient, high-performing organisations and thriving communities, we need to place purpose, professionalism, and inclusion at the heart of recruitment.
“We urge all employers: look beyond traditional hiring pools and actively engage the over 50s. Their decades of dedication, real-world skill, and community focus can enrich your culture.”
The skills that make over 50s candidates excel in school caretaking are valuable across countless sectors: logistics, healthcare, social care, manufacturing, public services, customer operations and beyond.
For employers ready to take the leap, Laura says: “Speak to the team about your organisation, what you stand for and your vision. They will work with you to understand you and build a partnership that works for you.”
And if she could go back to spring 2022, when TIB Services first partnered with Rest Less, what would she do differently? “Start it earlier.”
Are you inspired by TIB Services’ story and interested in working with us to develop an age-diverse workforce? If so, you can get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or contacting us here.
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