Factors Affecting the Access Retention and Progression of ‘Older Workers’. Dr Tony Maltby IASS, University of Birmingham.

Project Aims Participative design Focus on Birmingham and Solihull Positive impact upon local policy development Positive impact upon the lives of those involved in the research (empowerment)

Project Outline Phase I 1. Recruitment of Development and Research Coordinator and Research Team 2. Recruitment of ‘sample’ (beneficiaries). 3. Establishment of a ’50+ team’ of volunteers

Project Outline Phase II 1. Outreach work involving contacts with local employers including SME’s 2. Carrying out discussion groups in various parts of Birmingham and Solihull.

Project Outline Phase III 1. Training of 50+ team in research and interviewing skills with accreditation by OCN. 2. Interviews by 50+ team with peers from discussion groups, New Deal 50+, ‘Skills for Change’ trainees, ‘information brokers’.

Project Outline Phase IV (Mainstreaming) 1. Drawing up a ‘What Works’ list for future policy development. 2. ‘Evaluative’ discussion groups with older workers 3. A targeted approach. To Further Education providers, local business community and policy makers and politicians etc.

Preliminary Findings Four areas: Training and Qualifications Health & Working environment Government and other agencies Other extraneous factors

Findings: Training and Qualifications Specific, not generic training with better ‘follow up’ More personal development courses Training that leads to paid work (training on the job) Need for ‘Mature apprenticeships’ Qualifications obtained regarded as ‘outdated’ by some employers (e.g. GCE ‘O’ Levels, City and Guilds etc.) Main barrier to accessing relevant training is the cost of that training.

Findings: Health & Working Environment Decline in Manufacturing industries Alienating cultural differences of modern workplace (long hours culture, pace of work) Lack of flexibility in working hours (better WLB) Health challenges: those with long term illness (e.g. Diabetes) and a variety of mental illness found difficult to access work Working environment ‘hostile’

Findings: Government and other agencies Implementation and effectiveness of ND50+ dependent upon the adviser concerned. A perception that ‘older workers’ not being considered in development of employment policy. A call for this age cohort to be involved and listened to.

Findings: Other Factors Undercurrent of ageism on part of employers. A preference for younger workers IT training provided ‘too generic, too patronising’ and at times, not relevant to those aged Racism: asylum seekers receiving preferential treatment Some areas of service sector deemed youth orientated (e.g. call centres)

Summary Focus on Access, Retention and Progression Empowerment of older people Representative of local ethnic diversity ‘Employability’ and skills led but……. Inform policy debate to promote change Better ‘Workability’ (after Ilmarinen et al )