Equal theme
 
Get involved
Valid XHTML 1.1

Skills Analysis

Logo for Skills Analysis www.skillsanalysis.org 

Partnership information

Description

man with drill

Background

Demographic 'time bomb' statistics predict that by 2012 there will be more people in the UK aged over 65 than under 16. This ageing population is already having a significant impact on businesses and the labour market particularly in the South West where the older population sector is growing faster than anywhere else.

Although employers are aware of the need to bridge the skills gap, older workers are still being dismissed from the labour market. With the support of public, private and voluntary organisations in the South West, Skills Analysis is working to influence employers in the recruitment and retention of older workers.

Aims

Skills Analysis aims to reduce the impact of these population changes by influencing employers in recruitment and retention policies for older workers. With an active research programme, its prime goal is to challenge the preconception that people over the age of 50 are no longer effective workers.

The initial focus of the DP has been small to medium sized businesses in three target sectors: Automotive, Retail and Food & Drink, as well as business owner/managers in all sectors.

Objectives

  • Influencing SMEs in the recruitment and retention of older workers by identifying hidden competencies
  • Enabling older workers to influence potential employers by providing evidence of their individual competencies.

Activities

  • Developing and trialing of an innovative toolkit
  • Trialing innovative delivery methods
  • Evaluating the impact of these trials against a control group of 100 workers aged less than 50
  • Age Concern training conducting information workshops and seminars aimed at SMEs on the value of the 50+ worker
  • Developing a qualification based on acknowledging a person's experience, skills and competence through the use of the toolkit and e-learning.

Target groups 

  • Older workers who are disadvantaged in the workplace
  • 300 50+ workers to trial the toolkit
  • 100 50+ workers to take part in the e-learning.

Round

2

Round 1 to Round 2

The Belgian transnational partners developed a toolkit in Round One. This toolkit has been developed by the UK DP in Round Two and forms part of their research evaluating the effectiveness of the approaches in the UK.

Lead partner

North Devon College

Core partners

Age Concern Training, Association of Colleges, Automotive Skills, CIPD, Creative Learning Media, Devon and Cornwall Business Council, Devon Learning and Skills Council, Government Office South West, Hartpury College, Institute of Motor Industry, SAVAGE, SkillSmart, South West Food and Drink Skills Network, South West Highways, The Adworks, Third Age Employment Network, University of Exeter (Marchmont Observatory)

Transnational partnerships

Information for Transnational partnerships

Contact

General enquiries, North Devon College, , Hilary Shipley, North Devon College,

End-dates

Action 2: 31 December 2007
Action 3: 31 December 2007

Equal theme

Adaptability to work

Origins

Beneficiaries

Employed in SMEs, People over 50
Total beneficiaries: 400

Intended impact/ sustainability

The intended impact of the work of Skills Analysis is to change the culture of ageism in the South West region and at national level by working with SMEs and HR departments of large organisations. The Sector Skills Councils, CIPD and Age Concern partners of the DP have been monitoring how the toolkit and approach have been taken up and embedded within the HR policies and practices of SMEs and large institutions. European transnational partners have been working on similar issues and the work of all partners will be disseminated via a European Dissemination network to be established under the Leonardo funding stream.

Scatter plot

Process X
Practice
Product X X X
Policy X X X
City Local Regional National European

Process/Regional

The DP will continue as a company after the end of the Equal programme.

Product/Local

The toolkit will be taken up by several organisations at local, regional and national level.

Product/Regional

The toolkit will be taken up by several organisations at local, regional and national level.

Product/National

The toolkit will be taken up by several organisations at local, regional and national level.

Policy/Regional

To change the culture of ageism in the South West.

Policy/National

To change the culture of ageism at national level in large partner organisations.

Policy/European

A European dissemination network is being established.

Move the mouse over the scatter plots to see more information or view all information without using the mouse.

Is this information correct?

Report an error

Connections

Connections

Activities and products

Activity
Services for employees Employers should judge each person as an individual, not by the date on their birth certificate.Expand/collapse Products (2)
Activity
Services for employers Targeted services for employers who have employees aged 50+ and who want to improve profitability by: Reducing staff turnover Improving motivation Reducing absenteeism Improving productivity Employer benefits include:  Skills Analysis Competence Assessment Toolkit: A new management software that focuses on identifying hidden competencies of older workers Innovative learning: The Skills Analysis Programme offers access to new e-learning methods of training Free online Equality, Diversity & Inclusion training: This ensures both a company and its employees can have up-to-date knowledge and training in all discrimination legislation including Age Discrimination Access to Age Driver: This is designed to enable a company to conduct a structured self-assessment as to what has been achieved so far in respect to Age Diversity and to help identify opportunities for further improvement Free online modular language programme for workers for whom English is not their first language Inclusion in training and awareness seminars focusing on Age Diversity .Expand/collapse Products (4)
Activity
Skills Equal The four Skills Equal partnership members are from Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland and the UK. Skills Equal is a transnational partnershipExpand/collapse Products (1)
Print
Learning in the Workplace Report on methods of delivering learning to older workers within the workplace.
Print
Project Management EvaluationEvaluation Report focussing on the management, outcomes and sustainability of project.
Website
Skills Analysis Toolkit Development and trialling of an innovative toolkit to assess competences.