A pioneering new training programme launched in the North East has been lauded as an example of best practice at a House of Commons event earlier this month. The event was called Fuller Working Lives and was hosted by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The training programme helps businesses deal with age differences in the workplace, which although a fantastic knowledge sharing opportunity, can be a source of challenges including managing different motivations and values amongst the workforce, dealing with legislation and regulation and planning succession.

The programme is run by SFEDI, in partnership with Age Inclusive, in response to research from institutions such Newcastle University’s world renowned centre for ageing and health, which highlighted the issues facing businesses in managing age diversity.

Leigh Sear, MD of SFEDI Solutions tells us more:

“We’re entering a world of work where there can be four generations in the same workforce.  Whilst this can provide a great opportunity for knowledge sharing between generations, it can also be a source of frustration and misunderstanding.

Older workers need to feel valued in order to pass on the knowledge they’ve gained over decades, and younger team members also need to be recognised for the new skills and knowledge they can bring to a business.

Businesses can maximize the opportunity that a diversely aged team brings by managing it well with a consideration of the sensitivities and opportunities.”

The programme developed by SFEDI and Age Inclusive, with funding from Ingeus, includes a business diagnostic tool, a workshop on understanding and managing age diversity in the workforce, and mentoring from the Age Inclusive team.

There’s already been a wide range of business people from the region joining the programme, adding age diversity skills to their knowledge base, businesses taking on new cohorts of apprentices, family firms looking to grow, and community organisations with banks of volunteers to support and manage.

To find out more about the programme contact Leigh Sear.