Apprenticeships for the over 50s?

Government report urges businesses to consider schemes.

‘A report, published by the Department of Work and Pensions, urged companies to run training schemes for pensioners to help boost people's employment prospects later in life.

‎Its authors pointed out that older workers often remain in one job for longer, making it more worthwhile for companies to take them on and train them up.

 “Older workers can often be overlooked when it comes to new training opportunities. Someone in their early 50s, however, can potentially stay with their employer for 15 to 20 years or longer,” it said.  

“There is a clear case for investing in their future and, in so doing, that of the business.

“Some employers are already recognising the importance of retraining, with Barclays and Whitbread among those running apprenticeship schemes for older people, [while] other employers have schemes in development.”

The report, titled Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach, said there are almost a million people aged between 50 and 64 who are not in employment but state they are willing to or would like to work.’ - Telegraph

‘“We know that older people can and do access apprenticeships,” the report states, quoting  “In 2015/16 over 57,700 (11.3 per cent) of those starting an apprenticeship were aged 45-59 and 3,500 were 60 years and over (just under one per cent),” it continued.

The report also stated that in 2011/12 there were 62,200 45 to 59-year-old starts, and 3,680 for over 60s. This compared to just over 57,000 for 25 to 59s, and 3,560 over 60s for 2015/16 (the last full academic year). It says that to continue this healthy trend, there should be some reforms to the ways in which apprenticeships are advertised and delivered. One recommendation was to remove age limits – “ensure that apprenticeships, job advertisements and other routes into employment are offered without age limits.”’ – Apprentice Eye (link no longer available)

‘Aegon pensions director, Steven Cameron, said: “In today’s society, there’s no place for a ‘fixed retirement age’. Flexible working up to and beyond traditional retirement ages is becoming the new normal, and an increasing number of older workers relish the opportunity to stay in work.

“Working for a few more years can make a big difference to the pension fund individuals can build up, and deferring when to start taking retirement income also means it’s more likely to go the distance.

“Employers can also benefit. By offering choice to their workforces, they can benefit from a diverse workforce and retain talent and expertise that in days gone by were often lost.”’ – The Actuar