"Finding the right employees to help a business grow seems to be a challenge across the South Island, but even more so outside of the big centres. I'd say it is the biggest headache for businesses in Ashburton,'' director Greg Martin said.
"To meet the challenge of recruiting qualified lawyers to the firm, we have decided to include in the package on offer something that will help someone moving to Ashburton get the most out of living here: a private pilot's licence.''
Mr Martin said Ashburton had a thriving airfield just five minutes from town, with grass runways, and a friendly club with a flying school "and is surrounded by uncluttered open skies''.
"From there you are in the Canterbury foothills in 15 minutes and, if the weather's good, over the alps and on to the West Coast in about 40 minutes. There is also great flying to be had up the braided rivers, or down the coast,'' Mr Martin said.
He said that as well as a matched-to-market salary, Arrowsmith Law would pay its new lawyer to go through flight training with the Mid Canterbury Aero Club.
"It's likely to take about two years of flying and fairly hard study, but it's a hugely rewarding thing to do. Our hope is that whoever gets the job will stick around longer than that. But if they don't, it will still have been a great time for them living here. And the real legal work is pretty good, too,'' he said.
The firm starts its recruitment campaign soon and hopes a new lawyer.aviator will join by the end of the year.
