Case study: Hiring outside the box works for Lamberts Fresh Produce

Like many businesses, Townsville-based Lamberts Fresh Produce was faced with a challenge trying to recruit to fill vacancies. Small and medium businesses report major impacts on business operations when they are unable to find staff. By approaching recruitment differently, the organisation has gained a new perspective, new skills and the perfect candidate.

Lamberts Fresh Produce was struggling to find staff through the traditional means. A challenge shared by many Queensland and Australian businesses. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022), almost 1/3 of businesses are having difficulties finding suitable staff.

Of these, small and medium businesses were more likely to have business operations impacted to a great extent (46% and 40%) than large businesses (29%) as a result of not finding suitable staff.

Hiring outside the box increasingly important

Employers are increasingly ‘hiring outside the box’. This means looking at different ways to connect with potential talent and different talent pools altogether, opening up new potential and alleviating business pressures. Thinking about different, often underutilised groups and building a recruitment strategy to target these areas can help expand employment pools.

One area that is significantly underutilised is Queensland’s migrant community. According to research, in 2018, 6,200 underutilised migrants and refugees had skills aligning with current skills shortages.

One of the best things to happen to Lamberts Fresh Produce was a call from TAFE Queensland, which reached out as part of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) Work Ready program.

Lamberts Fresh Produce owner Christine Burge said TAFE Queensland contacted them and asked if they would take on someone for work experience.

“TAFE Queensland’s AMEP Work Ready program helped us connect with communities we hadn’t been able to in the past and it has been such a positive, impactful experience,” Christine said.

When Jules (pictured, left) joined the team, he quickly impressed Lamberts Fresh Produce’s management team with his skills and leadership potential. A talented multi-lingual student, Jules came to Australia in 2017 as a refugee, originally from the Central African Republic and then in Chad in a refugee camp.

“We were so impressed with Jules that we took him on as a casual employee and then were able to offer a more permanent role,” Christine said.

“We are now at full capacity [for] the first time in many years. We were so impressed by Jules’ work ethic and ability that when he recommended his friends, we hired them as well. We now have six African team members working in the produce department”.

Diverse hires are good for business and the community

There have been many mutual benefits, including an improvement in communication amongst the team in general and more cultural awareness, which has enhanced their customer base as well.

Christine said that hiring Jules has been beneficial in so many respects – other staff have improved their own cultural and communication skills, and this in turn has helped diversify their customer base.

“Other benefits have included team members learning to respect each other’s cultures and their respective ways of life,” she said.

“This has flowed on to customers as well, as we are now a very multicultural society. The business has benefited by having a strong team-focused group and the employees [have gained a] secure job”.

Jules is now a team leader, which has helped onboard staff and assist with language barriers.

“I think success has resulted because they are all working together, led by Jules, in the same department. They don’t let each other down – they turn up, work hard and do the job well.”

How doing things differently can get results

The inclusion of the African group into the produce department team has been a smooth transition because Lamberts Fresh Produce has done things differently:

Connecting with migrant and refugee communities

• Lamberts Fresh Produce connected with TAFE Queensland to access migrant and refugee candidates for roles. The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) helps migrants improve their English language skills and prepare for work in Australia.

Leadership, mentoring and upskilling

• Lamberts Fresh Produce provides leadership support for staff and mentors emerging leaders.
• The business supports and encourages upskilling and professional development.

Focus and staged commencements

• Lamberts Fresh Produce focuses on 1 new hire at a time. This allows each team member to settle in and get used to the business. This means Lamberts can give dedicated support to the individual as well.
• Lamberts has developed a staged process where new hires can start in certain areas of its produce department, build skills and progress to other sections. This process helps individuals build skills, confidence and proficiency.

Culturally, religious and socially considerate rostering

• The business has developed a flexible 7-day roster, which allows staff to continue their religious/social activities as well as hold down a job.

A new lens on recruitment has changed the way Lamberts Fresh Produce does business, expanding employment pools and its customer base, and has built an environment of mutual respect and commitment.

This showcase is powered by the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.

Special thanks and acknowledgement to Regional Development Australia (RDA) Townsville and North West Queensland for this case study.

More information and support

• Diverse Queensland Workforce Program – find services supporting migrants, refugees and international students into employment across Queensland.
• Attracting and retaining engineers from migrant backgrounds: A guide for employers.
• Industry Workforce Advisors – providing workforce planning support to employers in small to medium-sized businesses.
• Employing and managing people – find workforce management information and advice, ranging from workforce planning to building high-performing, positive workplaces where staff want to start and stay.