The UK Government is currently expressing concerns regarding the number of workers aged over 55 who are not in work, or unable to obtain work, in particular as a means to boost the economy and productivity.
However, research has found that those in this age range, whilst offering a wide range of skills and experience, are still often shut out due to narrow views of their age.
Offering a different viewpoint, and bucking the trend, Roger Haw, Managing Director at Sheffield based heat treatment specialist, Flame Hardeners is a firm advocate of employing older workers: “It is well worthwhile to pick up someone older who can do a good job; they give some thought to instructions and procedures and are flexible, reliable and have a good work ethic.”
A typical example of this ethos is fork-lift operator Dave Jones.
Dave had spent most of his working life in warehouse work and had been driving fork lift trucks for six years, until being made redundant. Prior to that he had been with a company as warehouse manager for almost 18 years, but after the company was sold, changes were made, and it moved its operations to Leicester.
At 62 Dave wasn’t confident about finding permanent work and so had been doing temporary work via an agency. As a result he joined Flame Hardeners on a temporary basis in November last year and was then offered a permanent job after Christmas.
Dave explains that he needed to adapt to operating a fork-lift after having operated a bale clamp machine for several years.
“The whole heat treatment environment is new to me, and it’s a whole new learning curve, but I’m enjoying learning new skills; and I get good guidance from management,” Dave explained. “In this job I’m covering everything – not just raw material in, as I was before. I’m also learning about engineering components and the background to the heat treatment processes. It keeps the ‘grey matter’ going.”
“I really enjoy the work, and wish I’d found this job 20 years ago. I like to be active and working, so I’m not planning on retiring any time soon!” added Dave.
“The Government sees an unused army of potential workers over 55 years of age, and we have been pleasantly surprised with Dave,” concluded Roger Haw.
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