Equal - Digital Repository

Background 

The South West of England has the highest proportion of its population of older people over the age of 50 of any region in England. One very obvious reason for this is the migration of older people from other parts of the UK, usually upon retirement from work. Another is the movement away from the area by those in work seeking broader career and job opportunities. One further reason was, until recently, a steady decline in birth rates.

In this climate, after having completed its own research into age and employability, the University of Exeter's Marchmont Observatory, provider of Skills and Learning Intelligence, worked with a number of key age champions to create a project that would develop support and services to older people who wished to continue to work. After securing funds, the University of Exeter, together with representatives from NIACE and TAEN set about creating a partnership of agencies and organisations that had something to contribute to the work. The partnership was established with members from the voluntary sector, government agencies, regional and national bodies and the private sector.

Aims 

• To assist older people in representing their experience and aptitudes in order to improve their employability
• To assist employers to understand and act positively regarding employing and supporting older workers
• To promote the productivity and competitiveness of the SW Region
• To ensure age demography issues have direct influence on the region’s key strategic agencies 

SWOOP has 4 main pillars of activity:

• SWOOP for individuals
• SWOOP for employers
• SWOOP for sustainability
• Overarching IT products to support the DP Objectives

Objectives

For individuals

• Combat age discrimination in the workplace in relation to older workers
• Promote the positive participation of older people in the labour market
• Offer advice, training and support to older people who are looking for employment

Through partner organisations, SWOOP has been delivering programmes to older people throughout South West England which allow them to explore:

• skills coaching
• employment advice and guidance
• interview training
• psychometric testing
• work experience
• volunteer training
• computer training
• self assessment and CV writing
• business start-up/entrepreneurship advice and guidance

For employers

• Provide information regarding the Age Legislation
• Provide guidance and support in regards to the employment of older people

• SWOOP has  been working very closely with employers to challenge negative attitudes towards older workers by offering accurate, age-positive information and guidance through workshops, presentations and action learning sets in relation to:

  • staff selection and recruitment
  • staff training and professional development
  • flexible working practices
  • employee retirement

  For the South West Region

  • Promote the productivity of the region in relation to current and projected labour market information
  • Provides to age discrimination in the workplace

  Target groups

  Older workers and employers

n/a

Fairplay South West, Jobcentre Plus, PRIME - The Initiative for Mature Enterprise, South West Regional Development Agency, Third Age Employment Network (TAEN)

Action 2: June 2007
Action 3: December 2007

Marchmont Observatory undertook a learning theme on age and employability. The partnership and bid resulted from and was informed by this research

A key aspect of the work of the DP is to establish partnership processes and mechanisms which will enable the age agenda to remain high with all players in the South West, and which will enable employers in the South West to realise the full potential of the older worker in contributing to the regional economy.

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