WORKING LINKS CHAMPIONING OLDER WORKERS

EMPLOYMENT and skills specialists Working Links is urging firms not to forget about unemployed people over 50. Working Links was founded in 2000 and operates in 184 locations across England, Scotland and Wales.

In just one region, the South West, latest figures show that more than 33,000 of the South West’s over 50s are unemployed and Working Links, which has 18 offices in the region, is urging employers to consider the benefits of older workers when recruiting.

Frances Brennan, Working Links’ Regional Director for the South West, said: “More experienced workers tend to have a lot of qualities employers desire – maturity, trustworthiness, reliability and, most importantly, common sense – the so-called soft skills. This is not to underplay the importance of formal qualifications – and this is where Working Links can help.

“We support our older clients with gaining the qualifications and job-specific skills needed to make them stand out as candidates, as well as offering support with the job seeking process.

“Because the hospitality and retail sectors have been hit hard by the recession with many people losing their jobs, firms in these sectors who are looking to recruit are keen on employees who can hit the ground running.

“Experience, which often brings with it transferable skills, can really add to the key formal qualifications needed for a job.”

Beverley Smith, 58, is one of scores of older workers Working Links helped back into work. After coming to the end of her contract as a Jobcentre Plus adviser, she turned to Working Links for help – and within three weeks she was back in employment as an administrator at Cornwall Council.

The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) works to promote the need for better employment opportunities for people in mid and later life, and have been commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions to develop a Good Practice Guide for welfare to work providers like Working Links.

A TAEN spokesman said: “The government recognises that people over 50 may find it much more difficult to get back into work once they become unemployed. However, the economy needs their skills and experience in the workplace and they, themselves, often need to be able to work longer in order to financially prepare for their retirement.”

The Guide, called 50+ Works, has now been released as a prototype and is accessible on www.50plusworks.com .

For more information on Working Links, call 0800 917 9262 or visit www.workinglinks.co.uk