A recent poll commissioned by Ageing Better reveals the scale of ageism in the workplace and demonstrates the urgent need for action. More than a fifth (21%) of UK adults aged 50+ indicated that since turning 50, they had regularly experienced ageist attitudes in the workplace or when applying for roles. And while approximately two thirds (64%) agreed they would feel comfortable in reporting ageist behaviour in the workplace, less than half (42%) said they would be confident any complaint would be taken seriously.

A recent poll commissioned by Ageing Better reveals the scale of ageism in the workplace and demonstrates the urgent need for action. More than a fifth (21%) of UK adults aged 50+ indicated that since turning 50, they had regularly experienced ageist attitudes in the workplace or when applying for roles. And while approximately two thirds (64%) agreed they would feel comfortable in reporting ageist behaviour in the workplace, less than half (42%) said they would be confident any complaint would be taken seriously.

Sky-high labour and skills shortages are one of the biggest challenges facing our economy today- the latest ONS statistics revealed over one million vacancies in the final quarter of 2022-3. And with an ageing population, older workers can play a vital role in overcoming this. It has never been more important for employers to become age-friendly and take advantage of older workers’ skills and experience.

By signing the pledge, Learn Plus Us is demonstrating their support to tackling ageism in the workplace and committing to taking at least one action a year to improve the way they recruit, manage and support older workers. Under the initiative, Learn Plus Uswill also identify a senior sponsor for age-inclusion within their workforce and ensure that age is specifically named within Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies.

Over 100 employers have already signed the pledge, including Virgin Hotels, Osborne Clarke and the Department for Work and Pensions. Learn Plus Usis proud to be joining other leading organisations in taking action to help older workers flourish in the workplace.

Debbie Gardiner MBE, Managing Director at Learn Plus Us said:

“I’m thrilled that Learn Plus Us has signed the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, it means a lot to me and the business. 17% of our workforce is 60+ and we recognise and truly value the knowledge, skills and experience older colleagues bring to the organisation and furthermore for those that are on the front line working with Apprentices, this can be an invaluable source of richness. I get a huge amount of pleasure from how our colleagues from different generations work together and how knowledge and new skills are shared both ways. From a personal perspective, I was in the 60+ age group when appointed the Managing Director, our pledge is in the name of Learn Plus Us, but quite clearly our parent company The Angus Knight Group shares our commitment.”

Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said:

“The pledge has been designed to support businesses to go on a journey at a pace that works for them. By taking manageable and measurable steps, employers will learn over time what steps they need to take to make the biggest difference in their own organisation.”

“The labour market is changing and employers are facing huge challenges with skills and labour shortages and near-record vacancy rates. Workers in their 50s and 60s are key to filling these gaps – now, more than ever, the older workforce is the workforce.

“And yet older workers are continuing to leave the labour market in droves. We want to help businesses understand how they can be attractive employers to older workers and reap the benefits of a multigenerational workforce.”

The Centre for Ageing Better supports the network of Age-friendly Employers by providing a full framework of actions to take alongside a range of learning resources and content to help employers make changes within their organisation. Regular newsletters share tips and guidance, while Ageing Better also host webinars where pledged employers can learn and share best practice. Organisations report back to Ageing Better on the progress of their age-friendly actions too.

Our Purpose is to empower the individuals, employers and communities we work with every day, to learn, achieve and excel

At the heart of our purpose lies the conviction that learning is a catalyst for empowerment. Our aim is not just to impart knowledge but to instil a passion for continuous learning. We envision individuals discovering their potential, employers finding success through skilled teams, and communities thriving with the collective power of knowledge. We are dedicated to providing training that goes beyond the ordinary, enabling individuals to achieve excellence in their chosen fields.

As we align with National Apprenticeship Week, we celebrate the role apprenticeships play in bridging the gap between education and employment. Our purpose resonates with the spirit of this week—fostering growth and creating pathways to success for aspiring apprentices across England.

Our Values are aligned with the Angus Knight Group

In tandem with the values upheld by the Angus Knight Group, our new set of principles reinforces our commitment to excellence, integrity, and inclusivity. Our values are a compass that guides us in our daily interactions and decision-making processes.

We Are Principled

We…

• – stay true to our business vision and values
• – do the right things, particularly when no-one is looking
• – are trustworthy, maintain confidentiality and act with integrity

We Keep Our Promises

We…

• – do what we say we will do
• – own it! We accept accountability, take responsibility, and deliver on commitments – especially to our customers and stakeholders
• – create an environment of trust and transparency

We Achieve Together

We…

• – share ideas, knowledge and best practice
• – are empowered to collaborate to achieve goals, push boundaries and innovate
• – prioritise group and team goals and support each other to achieve individual goals

We Respect And Value All People

We…

• – are inclusive and develop positive relationships to drive change and growth
• – respect equality, diversity and inclusion
• – demonstrate empathy, listen to others and are constructive even when we disagree

Join Us in the Celebration of Learning

This National Apprenticeship Week, we extend an invitation to join us in the celebration of learning, achievement, and empowerment. Follow our social media channels for inspiring stories, insights into apprenticeship success, and a glimpse into the transformative journeys of those we have had the privilege to work with.

Who are the Skills Trainer Team?

Left to Right: Sanjay Kambo, Bobby Mushtaq, Dianne Burgess, Donna Spreag, Jessie Lawlor, June Morrice, Michael ‘Chip’ Friskney

The Skills Trainer Team are a group of specialist employability skills trainers, who provide a holistic range of interventions that are targeted at breaking down barriers, building confidence and supporting job seekers to prepare for interviews and return to the workplace. By becoming part of Learn Plus Us, the Skills Trainer Team will have access to the breadth of expertise and infrastructure of a skills-led organisation, that can provide a dedicated quality assurance and continuous improvement service, new curriculum and learning resources as well as access to a well-established Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme.

“I am very excited to welcome the Skills Trainer team to Learn Plus Us as part of our operations team, it’s been insightful getting to know the team individually and observing some of the great employability sessions they deliver. It’s been impressive to see their commitment and passion in supporting people back in to work and training invaluable skills to overcome barriers to employment. I am looking forward to working more closely with the Skills Trainer team and helping even more people into employment.” – Tony Holloway, Operations & Quality Director

As an Apprenticeship provider, career development is a fundamental part of our wider curriculum, our new Skills Trainers will provide a perspective on the development of this curriculum that Learn Plus Us has previously not had.

We’re also delighted that Mark Simpson, one of Learn Plus Us’ Tutors has joined the Skills Trainer Team for 3 days a week; Mark is experienced in employability and apprenticeship training and is passionate about the work he’s doing to support job seekers achieve their goals.  

“We’re incredibly excited by the arrival of the Skills Trainer team at Learn Plus Us. This change enables the Skills Trainer team to deliver even more effective and impactful skills support and interventions to the participants, through shared expertise with a wider team of skills experts, access to additional curriculum and training materials, and strategic direction from a business whose primary focus is learning and development. The combined knowledge of our new Skills Trainer team will be invaluable to the expansion of Learn Plus Us’ service offer and ongoing growth.”   – Debbie Gardiner MBE, Managing Director

Contact Learn Plus Us to find out more about the Skills Trainer team and find out more about our range of Apprenticeships and ESOL courses.