- Network of dedicated 50PLUS: Champions now in place across
England, Scotland and Wales
- Builds on £22 million funding boost secured to support older
workers
Dozens of 50 PLUS Champions tasked with helping older workers
into work are now in place across England, Scotland and Wales,
the Minister for Employment confirmed today.
Each area has specialised, local staff dedicated to this helping
over 50’s into work. They are working directly with Jobcentres
and employers to remove any barriers that are keeping older
workers out of the jobs market. Results of this partnership work
are already being seen with leading employers like McDonald’s
working with the Jobcentre in Scunthorpe to fill vacancies.
50 PLUS Champions assist Work Coaches to change employer
attitudes about hiring over 50s as well as matching jobseekers
with opportunities that suit their skills.
Minister for Employment, , said:
Older workers are a huge asset to our country and our economy. I
want to support them to get into work.
An age-inclusive workforce makes business sense too. Our 50 PLUS
Champions will work with leading employers across the country to
connect job-ready people with the vast number of opportunities
out there.
DWP is also
supporting older jobseekers, with the introduction of the
Jobcentre Mid-Life MOT service which supports people to take
stock and make plans for their work, wealth and well-being into
the future.
Jobcentres deliver a specialised offer for those 50 and over,
identifying and overcoming obstacles holding them back from the
labour market. Support includes modernising CVs or developing new
skills through specialist programmes with new employers and a new
approach.
There are also individual businesses which partner up with
Jobcentres to create sector-based work academies. These SWAPs
last up to six weeks and offer pre-employment training, work
experience with an employer in the industry and, at the end of
the programme, an opportunity to apply for a job interview in the
sector or seek help with the application process.
To mark National Older Workers Week, DWP is organising a
number of events and jobs fairs across the country, including job
fairs at Hackney Jobcentre Plus and in Birmingham & Solihull
at Kings Norton Jobcentre Plus on 22 November, as well as the
‘Let’s Go Retro’ jobs fair in South Manchester on 25 Novembers,
all specifically targeted at jobseekers over 50.
Further Information
- National Older Workers Week takes place from 21 to 25
November 2022
- Founded by Working Wise, the awareness week is now in its
second year
-
Working
Wise will host a series of events during National Older
Workers Week, including an online session for employers on how
they can create an age-inclusive workplace
