Swindon Hotel's key role in age-friendly milestone

By Barrie Hudson - 22 March 2023

Business
  • Delta Hotels by Marriott Swindon Human Resources Manager Caroline Alexander with a celebratory cake

    Delta Hotels by Marriott Swindon Human Resources Manager Caroline Alexander with a celebratory cake

Delta Hotels by Marriott Swindon who became the 100th employer to join a Centre for Ageing Better scheme to make workplaces more age-friendly.

The nationwide programme requires employers to commit to taking one action a year to improve the recruitment, retention and development of older workers.?? 

Organisations across the country, from the Isle of Wight to Warrington and from Llandovery to Lincoln, have signed the pledge, and are from a broad range of sectors including recruitment, construction, health and social care, charity, manufacturing, finance, leisure and hospitality.? 

A Delta Hotels by Marriott Swindon spokesperson said: “Within our company, we will be working towards removing the existing stigma that the hospitality industry is for the younger population, by actively advertising that we are also looking for older talent to join our team and strengthen the industry.

"Signing the pledge will help us action these steps in our recruitment process, enabling us to find this older talent.” 

The pledge was launched as the issue of economic inactivity among older workers rose in importance for the Government.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt highlighted the value of older workers during his Budget speech while announcing new policies intended to help more older people back into work.

Work and Pensions Minister Mel Stride is leading a review of economic inactivity, due to conclude in May, while a House of Lords report published in December cited earlier retirement as the biggest factor behind the UK’s skills and labour shortages and warned the rise in inactivity poses serious challenges to the UK economy.  

The number of inactive 50 to 64-year-olds has increased by 320,000 since before the pandemic, with this agegroup accounting for 65 percent of the increase in working-age inactivity over this period.

The employment gap between those aged from 35 to 49 and those aged from 50 to 64 now stands at 14.6 percentage points, which is 1.5 percentage points more than at the start of the pandemic. 

Dr Emily Andrews, Deputy Director for Work at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “It has been encouraging to hear the Government’s recent recognition of the vital importance for UK PLC of having more older workers in employment.  
“Employers can show that they are singing from the same hymn sheet as the government by taking action to create a more supportive and attractive work environment for the recruitment, retention and training of older workers by signing up to our Age-friendly Employer Pledge.

"It is encouraging to see that hundreds of businesses are already showing this intent by registering their interest and signing up to our free nationwide programme.” 
Under the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, businesses and organisations identify a senior sponsor for age-inclusion within their workforce and ensure that age is specifically named within their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies.? 

Employers are also supported with practical guides and resources including case studies and examples to help them improve their practice and a learning network where they can share challenges and successes with fellow employers. £ 

Potential actions from participating employees include reducing age bias in recruitment and introducing flexible working which are vital to helping over 50s remain in work.? 

The pledge is one of the first steps in realising the Centre for Ageing Better’s vision of building an Age-Friendly movement that encourages, inspires and enables the change needed to create better later lives for all.

The movement includes a public-facing campaign to shift attitudes to ageing and working with communities, industries and sectors to help them be more age-friendly and inclusive as the population ages.? 

More information can be found at https://ageing-better.org.uk/age-friendly-employer-pledge 

 

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