How Can ESF Help Older Workers through the Recession? gallery
A first-rate line up of speakers reviewed current labour market conditions and previous recessions; the national and regional ESF programmes performance versus the 50+ targets; explaining what the Government is doing in response to the recession and what employers themselves are doing to retain employees of all ages.
The conference’s table…
“The older worker group we are targeting today perhaps once did not get the attention they are now getting, but even that has to be put in the context of the recent news that the number of younger people facing unemployment in the UK is teetering on the million mark.
“The danger remains that amidst this news older workers will continue to be forgotten. Part of the aim of this conference is that we don’t forget them. That is why we will be looking at what works and what does not.”
Ken Lambert, Head of England ESF Managing Authority
“With unemployment continuing to rise, older people who could be described as ‘NEEDs’ (Not in Employment, Education or in their Dotage) require intensive support to get into work.”
Chris Ball, TAEN Chief Executive
“We have to tackle the idea that younger workers matter more. It is important that attention is given to them but what happens to older workers matters as well. We have to fly the flag for older workers and not let the debate about young people dominate the discussion.”
Professor Sarah Vickerstaff, Head of the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent
“Demographic change shows we need another one million older workers over the number already in work plus further increases just to keep pace with where we are today.”
Christine Asdown, DWP Extending Working Life Team
“I frequently hear of managers in organisations wanting to retire older workers because they say they are unable to relate to, or manage, people as old as their parents. That attitude needs to be challenged.”
Rachel Krys, Campaigns Director, The Employers Forum on Age
“When the age discrimination legislation was introduced in 2006, we went for age neutral policies and practices. This meant removing the age barrier for new apprentices. The oldest apprentice is now 57 and he had been unemployed for 18 months before joining us.”
Carole Willsher, Recruitment and Diversity Specialist, British Gas
“When we did a snapshot of outcomes of getting people into work, we found that 20 per cent of them involved the 50+. So it does work. It means negotiating with employers but the key thing about getting an older adult back to work is the relationship with the client.”
Jan Townsend, Business Manager of ‘Hardest to Help’ project, Kennedy Scott Ltd
“We all work on similar issues and it is important that we come together to make our common message more effective.”
Lloyd Broad, Head of ESF Innovation, Transnationality and Mainstreaming (ITM) Unit Coordinating Body at Birmingham City Council
Table discussions
Table discussions
Table discussions
Table discussions
Table discussions session
Table discussions
Table discussions
Table discussions
Table discussions
Table discussions
Table discussions session
Table discussions
Table discussions
Brains trust session
Brains trust session
Brains trust session
Brains trust session
Brains trust session
Brains trust session
Brains trust session
Brains trust session
Brains trust session