why dont you try some as a trainee for 6 months through the job centre..you dont have to pay them and job centre pay you 75 quid a week for your trouble
You get 2 weeks trial, after that you have to take them on for about 32 hours a week for the £75.00 but it goes along way to paying there wage
The 2 week trial they work for you for nothing but still get there benefits, and you get to check them out, if you dont like it you say no, no obligation to take on...
Only catch is this scheme is only for long term unemployed, around 6 months plus, however the upside is they have to ask to be allowed on the scheme and hence are not forced but are voluntarily trying to get back to work, so they must be eager!! And during the 2 week trials they too can decide they dont want the job if they dont think it would be worth coming off benefits to do!
I checked it all out late last year and am going to try it myself , just building up enough work for someone now, - just go down to your local job centre and there is usually someone who runs this scheme and coordinates it, you tell them what you want they find ideal candidates, then set you up with a room to interview them in
I would try it definitely, the people who go through the job centre these days arent all the stereotypical lager lout, doleys you might think, many who have been laid off recently are office types, and hard working skilled people, so you may bag someone who is desperate to work or fancies a career change to ride out the recession, worth a gamble in my opinion, you dont need a rocket scientist, just someone who has a good work ethic and some loyalty
Good luck, let me know how you get on if you try it out
sean