Posted on 16/07/2021 19:22
I read elsewhere that C&CC are closing some sites and cancelling people’s bookings due to staff shortages. Sure enough, it's true and they've updated their website today. I hope nobody here is affected.
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Posted on 12/10/2021 21:16 by DavidKlyneSurely it is pretty obvious? The Club provide a pitch, water and waste, electricity and toilet block. That surely is fairly minimalist? OK we have a few sites that go beyond this with restaurants and swimming pools but they are very much the exception. On the other hand in Europe the latter is fairly common place at prices, certainly out if season much lower that what the Club charge. Now there is nothing wrong with the way the Club do things as many seem to quite like it but clearly all sites and organisations have their own way of doing things. There is no right or wrong way of doing things and its all swings and roundabouts as you have to pay for a crossing to get to Europe and there is also the insurance so by the time you add all that the costs probable balance out?
Posted on 12/10/2021 21:46
I wonder if you have replied to the right poster and/or even read my post as I'm struggling to see how your answer relates in any way to mine??
You are saying it pretty obvious that the club runs its site on a shoestring? I hardly think so personally. but perhaps you could suggest how it? I've just come back from a very large multiple set of wardens sites, two large and refurbished shower blocks with disabled, toddler, and family rooms, electric tractors, games rooms, play area, hardly minimalist at all I would say? Most club sites are like this?
Why you've gone on about swing and roundabouts of costs touring over there I have no idea at all? I never mentioned touring? I merely said that it is pointless to compare prices here and over there. I pay £3/4/5 for a costa coffee and 1.5 euros for the same in Italy. I also never mentioned any right or wrong way either yet you have brought this up as if I did?
As I said it is pointless to compare prices from the UK to Europe, pay up or not, simple really.
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Posted on 12/10/2021 21:16 by DavidKlyneSurely it is pretty obvious? The Club provide a pitch, water and waste, electricity and toilet block. That surely is fairly minimalist? OK we have a few sites that go beyond this with restaurants and swimming pools but they are very much the exception. On the other hand in Europe the latter is fairly common place at prices, certainly out if season much lower that what the Club charge. Now there is nothing wrong with the way the Club do things as many seem to quite like it but clearly all sites and organisations have their own way of doing things. There is no right or wrong way of doing things and its all swings and roundabouts as you have to pay for a crossing to get to Europe and there is also the insurance so by the time you add all that the costs probable balance out?
Posted on 12/10/2021 22:01 byIts true we who start our journeys from the wrong side of the channel do incure costs we wouldn't if we stayed in the U K and we personally have just probably had our most expensive trip ever having taken a ferry to Spain and returned the same way. However that's our choice and to us worth every penny but the point about relative costs is that European travelers who can just hitch up and go dont have to to pay them and find sites offering way more than minimalist .
Posted on 12/10/2021 20:49 by DavidKlyneI can assure you the Club HQ is not that grand!!! Its all very well suggesting that the HQ would be cheaper in another part of the country but many of the staff at East Grinstead have years of experience that would be lost if they transferred to a cheaper part of the country. I doubt the Club have anywhere near the budget of the BBC!!! I think also you underestimate the cost of actually moving which in the end would come down to what the members pay either in the way of subscriptions or campsites. I would be disappointed if there were nor £100,000 plus salaries for some members of Club management. The market rate is defined by the level of salaries that the people of similar capabilities would earn elsewhere.
David
Posted on 12/10/2021 22:30
DK, they won’t lose that experience, they are able to work from home. That’s the point I was suggesting. The latest batch of HQ job vacancies mention remote working for a percentage of the time. I was just mulling over the need for an office based in an expensive area, that is all, merely that the world of work is evolving. I don’t disagree either that good remunerative salaries are needed to attract quality director level staff.
However, the nuts and bolts that hold together what the Members join for are of equal importance, and right now, some of those nuts and bolts are going missing, hence Sites closing early and staff shortages. Both Club’s by the sounds of it.
Posted on 12/10/2021 22:42
The traditional Club style staffing model - middle aged couples buying a caravan big enough to live in while they work both together at a campsite for months at a time is unique in my experience. I have never seen it in any other country, and quite rarely here in the UK. That’s not how other sites are staffed.
I have seen sites staffed by local people living off site, sites where receptionists are daily staff like the ones employed by other businesses, sites which bring in contractors for cleaning and grounds maintenance, sites with staff houses, sites with no overnight resident staff, sites which employ single people not just couples. and sites with back up from students in peak season. Every other staffing model is out there on other sites.
Couples with £40,000 plus to spend are buying Motorhomes these days - often panel van conversions - good for touring but not to live in on a site for long periods while they work as wardens, especially now that sites are open for ever longer seasons. Bring your own caravan to live in is not going to be attractive for much longer.
I reckon the two Clubs both need a big re think on how their sites will in future be staffed. The traditional warden model might be on its way out.
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Posted on 12/10/2021 22:42 by eurortravellerThe traditional Club style staffing model - middle aged couples buying a caravan big enough to live in while they work both together at a campsite for months at a time is unique in my experience. I have never seen it in any other country, and quite rarely here in the UK. That’s not how other sites are staffed.
I have seen sites staffed by local people living off site, sites where receptionists are daily staff like the ones employed by other businesses, sites which bring in contractors for cleaning and grounds maintenance, sites with staff houses, sites with no overnight resident staff, sites which employ single people not just couples. and sites with back up from students in peak season. Every other staffing model is out there on other sites.
Couples with £40,000 plus to spend are buying Motorhomes these days - often panel van conversions - good for touring but not to live in on a site for long periods while they work as wardens, especially now that sites are open for ever longer seasons. Bring your own caravan to live in is not going to be attractive for much longer.
I reckon the two Clubs both need a big re think on how their sites will in future be staffed. The traditional warden model might be on its way out.
Posted on 12/10/2021 23:15
I have seen sites staffed by local people living off site, sites where receptionists are daily staff like the ones employed by other businesses, sites which bring in contractors for cleaning and grounds maintenance, sites with staff houses, sites with no overnight resident staff, sites which employ single people not just couples. and sites with back up from students in peak season. Every other staffing model is out there on other sites
Indeed and the common denominator is that these staff go off site, while wardens stay on site. Is there a difference? Well I would say yes. If there is a a problem (you mentioned these happened in an earlier post), if there is an issue on site with anything like the toilets have not been cleaned properly, then the wardens have no where to run, it is their site, their responsibility, no one to blame but themselves, no one to pass on the buck or take the flack.
sites with staff houses yes the club has those too btw!
Also wardens are members of the club, they are also experienced caravaners or motorhomers, they can often help with those problems that can crop up with an outfit. Would a receptionist/cleaner just brought in for a shift have the necessary experience?
What have you got against couples working anyway?
Is is that rare? 10% of sites in the UK are club sites, is 10% rare?
I reckon the two Clubs both need a big re think on how their sites will in future be staffed. The traditional warden model might be on its way out.
Could you explain why?
And again why always so bothered , you state you don't use club sites at all?
Posted on 12/10/2021 21:16 by DavidKlyneSurely it is pretty obvious? The Club provide a pitch, water and waste, electricity and toilet block. That surely is fairly minimalist? OK we have a few sites that go beyond this with restaurants and swimming pools but they are very much the exception. On the other hand in Europe the latter is fairly common place at prices, certainly out if season much lower that what the Club charge. Now there is nothing wrong with the way the Club do things as many seem to quite like it but clearly all sites and organisations have their own way of doing things. There is no right or wrong way of doing things and its all swings and roundabouts as you have to pay for a crossing to get to Europe and there is also the insurance so by the time you add all that the costs probable balance out?
Posted on 13/10/2021 09:09
You're right David, but the French (or the Spanish, Germans etc) don't pay for a ferry crossing or insurance to enjoy the 'non minimalist' sites they have and expect in their own country at the price levels you mention.
Whilst many do have a family involvement this has little bearing on how the service ethic is approached with dedicated staff manning different elements of the business...
also, it's certainly not always family members who 'run the desk' at many large sites. As AD suggests, some (like our destination site for January) have several staff (man and women) manning the desk all day from 8am till 10pm dealing with all manner of queries, holiday/pitch booking changings, organising excursions, bus tours, restaurant bookings, help with doctors, dentists et al....all in multiple languages.
As ET mentions, these aren't cheap family members who are 'helping out' to keep costs down, but young professionals folk doing a top class job, hopefully for a decent wage.
It would certainly open some folks eyes to see a busy top class continental site's reception area in full swing.
also, I wonder how 'the children's play area' mentioned above compares to some Ive seen with basketball, football, boules, table tennis, tennis, many others even including golf and archery!
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Posted on 13/10/2021 09:16
We have similar non club sites here, popular with those who like big sites and amenities. UK sites have to provide more indoor facilities to cope with our weather. Expenses increase pro rata.
However I agree with Euror that the club employment model isn't working as well as it did and this is the sticking point regarding keeping sites open and attracting staff.
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