This five-year-old lad has been working alongside his dad at their car dealership since the age of one - earning £1 for every scratch or dent he spots. Matt Ward said that he's been bringing his son Alfie to work at his used car dealership Voldi Ltd every Saturday 'come rain, sleet, sun, snow or shine' for the past three-and-a-half years.
But when the 37-year-old was quizzed by one customer why Alfie was not 'inside watching TV', Matt outlined the benefits for his son including increasing his self-esteem, enabling him to learn the value of money and creating 'fun memories' with his dad.
The managing director said the client responded with a smile and never questioned his answer before leaving a deposit on the car. Matt has since shared a post about the exchange on LinkedIn, where it has amassed more than 2,000 likes, comments and shares.
The dad-of-one, who described Alfie as 'his world', is hoping observing his dad's hard work will 'imprint on him as being normal' and set him up for later on in life.
Matt, of Worksop, Nottinghamshire, said: "Ever since he was young enough I've always brought him to work with me. He's been coming since he was in a pram, so for about three and a half years. I wanted to programme him from a young age to have a lot of self-esteem and I thought that was a great way to do it.
"I want to give him the confidence and listen to me speak to people and learn the value of money. I appreciate he's only five but my belief is that the first eight or nine years of a child's life, that's when you can really put an imprint on them.
"It's really good for their learning as well because they pick up new vocabulary and speak to a lot of different people and I think it brings them on so much quicker, rather than just having interaction with school. He gets a reward so I make it fun for him. It's only token gestures and it's a £1 but at that sort of age they don't know the difference between a £1 and a thousand pounds all he sees it as is a reward and it goes straight into his money box. When he gets older I want him to remember these times as being fun and spending time with his dad."
Matt who has worked at the award-winning car dealership for four years said that little Alfie shadows everything he does while he's at work with him. This includes sitting alongside him in the office, listening to him communicate with clients and when part exchanges come in he'll also identify any marks or scratches.
He explains that he was prompted to explain why he brought Alfie to work after being quizzed by a customer who questioned why the tot was not 'inside where it's warm'.
Matt said: "He was there one Saturday with me and a client was looking at a car and he seemed shocked that he wasn't watching television inside or something. I said to the client 'this is my son, he's here every weekend and this is what he does. I make it fun for him and I think it's great for his self-esteem and learning curve and hopefully it will set him on the right path for the future.'
"The client smiled, they couldn't really give another answer to it. They left a deposit on the car that they were looking at and gave my son a pat on the head and said 'bye bye Alfie'. I want to imprint on him as much as I can and set him up for his future.
"Children do what their parents do. If they see a parent do something they think that's normal and they will copy. If he sees me working hard I'm hoping it will imprint on him as being normal."
The 37-year-old said that the response from his LinkedIn post has been 'fantastic' and that it's brought back happy memories for many professionals who were also taken to work by their parents during their childhood.
One user said: "Great life lessons learned at a very young age set you up for life. When I was 10 my dad used to be the Circulation Manager for The Scotsman newspaper and when there were events that needed outside vendors he would take me and my job was to sell newspapers in the street. He employed lots of people to do this but always took me to teach me how to sell - I got paid the same as the rest and always sold them all."
Another added: "Love this. I think taking your child to work is essential if you want them to have an understanding of what business their parents are involved with - as maybe one day they might want to join you. If nothing else if they're the beneficiaries of what the business has afforded you in increase of lifestyle etc., they'll know where it's come from (your hard work) and what it's taken to get there - even from a child's perspective."
A third commented: "I worked very, very hard with my Father for many years. Outside in all weathers, all year round. It taught me the value of working for my money. Many of those values are with me today. He made no allowances for my age nor for being his son. I was there to graft and that was that! I in turn have taught my children to work hard for what they earn - no freeloading allowed!!
I now have five hardworking, upstanding children that I am very proud of."
