Almost 300 employers sign up to older worker pledge within its first year
Hundreds of employers have signed the Age-friendly Employer Pledge since Ageing Better launched the scheme last year.
Our Chief Executive, Dr Carole Easton OBE, said the success of the nationwide scheme showed just how many employers recognise the value of older workers.
Across the country, leading organisations and businesses of all sizes are committing to the Centre for Ageing Better’s Age-friendly Employer Pledge as it celebrates its one-year anniversary.
More than 290 employers have now joined the programme for employers who recognise the importance of older workers in boosting productivity and filling key skills gaps.
Nearly 50 employers have signed the pledge in the last two months alone.
The Gym Group, Moto motorway services, Kids Planet Day Nurseries, Gentoo housing association and the Royal Parks charity responsible for maintaining eight Royal Parks are just some of the organisations that have signed up in recent weeks.
Employers in a wide range of sectors, including construction, utilities, retail, recruitment and hospitality, have all signed the pledge in the last 12 months alongside three government departments, 18 local authorities and five organisations within the NHS.
Almost one in two pledge-signing employers are SMEs with fewer than 50 employees, while more than one in four are larger employers with more than 1,000 employees.
More than 400,000 workers now work for Age-friendly employers who have taken the pledge since it was launched on 30th November 2022
In signing the pledge, employers have committed to taking one action a year to improve the recruitment, retention and development of people in their 50s and 60s.
This includes appointing a senior sponsor for age-inclusion within their workforce, ensuring that age is specifically named within their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies and introducing flexible working. These are all vital moves to help the over 50s remain in work.
Dr Carole Easton OBE, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said:
“It is fantastic news on the first birthday of the Age-friendly Employer Pledge that we have so many employers, large and small, who are signing up.
“It shows how many employers recognise the value of older workers, the skills and experience they bring to their businesses and their importance in helping tackle labour and skills shortages.
"Pledge signers have told us how useful they have found the process in helping them to focus on the key approaches to improve their age diversity and to adapt to the changing post-pandemic world of employment.
“We look forward to many more employers from even more sectors joining us in year two and for existing pledge signers to go that step further in their age-friendly approach.”
Sarah Eyes, Recruitment Manager at Kids Planet, said:
“Our team is proud to announce our commitment to diversity and inclusivity by signing a pledge that demonstrates our intention to actively seek out and hire talented individuals over the age of 50.
“Kids Planet recognises that recruiting older workers enhances overall performance and success by leveraging their experience, stability, mentorship potential, and diverse skill set. It's a strategic approach to building a well-rounded and effective workforce.”
The pledge is a key part of the Centre for Ageing Better’s vision of creating a society where everyone can enjoy later life.
The charity’s Age-friendly Movement includes the country’s first public-facing campaign to shift attitudes to ageing and eradicate ageism, which will launch in the new year.
For more information on the Age-friendly Employer Pledge and to register your interest, visit here.