We are delighted to be involved with Age at Work, an initiative aimed at helping businesses to understand the benefits of recruiting, re-training and retaining workers aged over 50.
Our Society has joined over 30 organisations around Wales engaging with the initiative, which is a partnership between Business in the Community Cymru (BITC) and Age Cymru and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Its aim is to support employers to put practices in place that create age-inclusive, multigenerational workplaces that proactively support people over 50 to remain in, or return to, work.
All the organisations involved in the initiative have access to a range of free toolkits, networks and support to help inform the action they take to create a workplace that’s better for mature employees and will benefit employees of all ages.
As well as engaging with employers, the programme also works with individuals aged over 50, helping them stay connected, informed, and develop new skills, which will allow them to learn and earn into later life.
One in three workers in Wales is aged over 50, and often these individuals have a vast wealth of life and work experience. It makes sense, therefore, that recruiting, re-training and retaining these workers is essential for Welsh businesses and the wider community.
Our Society has long encouraged mature workers to become and/or remain employees with us, and our current workforce comprises a large number of individuals aged 50 and above.
Through the Age at Work initiative, we are working with BITC to offer free mid-career review seminars to all of our employees aged 50 plus, to discuss their career, health and wellbeing, personal finances and work-life balance. We are also promoting free appointments with financial advisors to discuss pension arrangements and advise on all matters relating to financial wellbeing.
Jill Salter, Age at Work Programme Manager, BITC said:
“We’re all living longer, which means the majority of us will be working for longer too and, with an ageing demographic across Wales and the UK, employers need to prepare for this and make the most of the experience and expertise of older employees.
“Age at Work helps businesses to understand the business and social benefits of recruiting, re-training and retaining individuals aged 50+.
“Mature workers are skilled and bring experience, knowledge and a different perspective to the workplace. Swansea Building Society has recognised that it’s crucial to continue to invest in the development of staff over 50, ensure recruitment practices don’t alienate this cohort, provide training opportunities and, in some circumstances, make reasonable adjustments to support older staff with caring responsibilities and health issues, so that they can retain knowledgeable, valuable colleagues.”
Alun Williams, our Chief Executive Officer, added:
“We’re very happy to be working with Age at Work, Business in the Community Cymru and Age Cymru to ensure that all our employees aged over 50 are helped and encouraged to be able to live the fullest life possible, in both a work and personal setting.
“Swansea Building Society has long understood the benefits of having a large number of older staff members within our team. Their experience, knowledge, diligence and positive approach to work is often hard to beat, and as the country has an ageing demographic, ensuring these individuals are happy in their work and feel supported to give their best is of vital importance.”
If you would like to find out more about Age at Work’s range of free resources, networking opportunities and support visit: www.bitcni.org.uk/ageatworkwales.