New scheme to help older workers bounce back from redundancy
The Centre for Ageing Better is developing a new redundancy support service with FareShare Midlands and funded by Barclays LifeSkills to help stop older workers falling out of work for good.
The redundancy support project, called Elevate, jointly commissioned with the West Midlands Combined Authority, is looking to create a more supportive approach, helping workers aged between 50 and 64 who have been recently made redundant to find fulfilling employment.
Elevate is designed around the experiences of older workers and to enable them to take control of their future following redundancy. FareShare Midlands are now looking for more individuals in the West Midlands who may be impacted by redundancy, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, and who want to get back into employment quickly, to join the scheme. At the same time, they want to hear from any employers considering making redundancies.
The manufacturing and automotive sectors chosen for the initial phase are seeing high numbers of traditional roles occupied by long-serving employees disappear because of a number of factors including the impact of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service aims to help affected workers process the grief and shock of redundancy, and offers immediate support, potentially even before redundancy. It is hoped this approach will reduce the likelihood of long-term economic inactivity compared to existing support which traditionally commences three months after redundancy.
In the West Midlands, older workers have been hardest hit in employment terms; with the employment rate of 50-64 year-olds dropping by three percentage points since the start of the pandemic - compared to 0.5 percentage points for 18-24 year-olds in the region and 1.4 percentage points amongst 50-64s nationally.
Statistics show that redundancy is particularly damaging for older workers, with over-50s generally having greater difficulty getting a new job following redundancy and more likely to fall into long-term unemployment.
Adrian Westwood, 60 from Burntwood, who was recently facing redundancy from his job in the automotive sector and who is featured in a VIDEO explaining more about the project, said: “It [the redundancy] was the worst time because of my age. I thought I need another five or six years of work really.
“The coaching was fantastic. There were people on the course who couldn 't even switch a laptop on but by the time they had finished the course, they had got their CV updated and had even started applying for jobs. Knowing that when I finished that course, my CV was up to scratch and the proof is in the pudding, I 'm at JCB now. ”
Lucy Kenny, Redundancy and Retraining project manager at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “For people who are being made redundant from life-long or long-term jobs, redundancy can come as a shock and a blow to their self-esteem. The current employment support services on offer often aren 't effective for this group and don 't meet their needs.
“Redundancy for those aged over 50 can result in grappling with a mixture of emotions, new options and changing needs. They need to consider substantial changes to their pension pot, changing health, and training options offered to them. All of this can be overwhelming and difficult to manage.
“Through our process of co-design, we have been able to confidently create a programme that puts the needs and experiences of those going through redundancy at the heart of the course. We hope that the service we develop through the project will be scalable across other regions and other industries. ”
Simone Connolly (pictured), CEO of FareShare Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Ageing Better on the Elevate over-50s employability programme. COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis have both increased the risk of redundancies, and the automotive and manufacturing sectors - key industries in the Midlands - have been particularly affected.
“The loss of a job and regular salary can be devastating, even more so for those over 50 who might struggle to get a new position. We are proud to offer this programme of tailored advice, support and access to opportunities, and hope it helps many people in the West Midlands to overcome redundancy and move forward positively into new roles. ”
For individuals facing redundancy in the West Midlands, or employers considering making redundancies which may impact older workers, more information about the scheme is available by contacting elevate@faresharemidlands.org.uk.