Free Training For Over 50s

Free training courses are available to employees over 50 in the South East.

Government and employers have become much more interested in the older workforce in the last five years for two main reasons - a growing shortage of skilled workers and a declining dependency ratio.

There is a growing risk of a shortage of workers, due to falling birth rates and a decrease in the age at which people retire. Retirement age now stands at around 63 on average.

There is also a rising dependency ratio, which is the proportion of people not earning - such as children and the retired - to those in work.

Life expectancy rose from 45 to 75 during the 20th century, and the trend continues. The result of these changes is a rise in the age of the population as a whole, with more retired people - especially those over 85 - supported economically by a shrinking proportion of people in the workforce. This is not happening yet, but the "dependency ratio" is predicted to begin falling from around 2009, as the "bulge generation" born immediately after the Second World War arrive in their mid 60s and begin to retire on a large scale. The result of these two changes is that the workforce is not growing fast enough to keep pace with economic growth.

In the South East, where demand for labour has been rising steadily and skills gaps and shortages continue to grow, the problems are already beginning to appear.

The age profile of the current population makes it inevitable that over the next decade the proportion of people in the age range of 16 to 44 in Britain will shrink from 24.1 percent to 23.7 percent, while the proportion aged 44 to 64 will increase from 14.5 percent to 16.7 percent. If patterns of retirement and of career breaks for childcare and so on do not change, this is bound to lead to a shrinking of the workforce.

Then there is the question of whether the workers who do exist have the right skills.

ReGROW is a European Social Fund and Learning and Skills Council initiative run by A4e (Action 4 Employment), which recognises the need to offer support to employers and employees who have reached the age of 50 or over and to assist in training them in order to enhance and develop their skills base within the working environment.

ReGROW is delivering services in five counties - Berkshire, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Moreover, companies that do participate by taking-up the free ReGROW training courses, or identify specific training courses to suit the organisations needs will be know as ReGROW Age Advocates and will help Professor Stephen McNair from the Centre for Research into the Older Workforce (CROW).

The ReGROW Process

Stage One IAG means Information, Advice and Guidance. These one to one sessions are delivered by specialists with a Level 4 NVQ. These IAG sessions will be delivered on the employer?s premises or at an agreed venue.

Stage Two Employers and employees will then have the opportunity to choose from the list of short focused courses available, which ’cater’ for the needs of the employees and employers. These courses will be one or two-day courses, with the employer and employee being able to choose how many courses he/she will be able to achieve, prior to the start date of each course. Specialist tutors will deliver all courses.

Stage Three The aim and objective of this stage is to introduce a mentoring service, giving the employee the opportunity to either become a mentor to a junior member of staff or be mentored themselves by a professional mentor. This is completed by phone or e-mail. On what ever level mentoring is applied, the employer will benefit from the experience, knowledge and skills passed on to the younger employee. The result will be a rejuvenated employee who is more focused, motivated and confident to tackle not just the present role of duties, but able to multi-task more efficiently in carrying out all daily tasks required.

There is also the opportunity to take-up ReGROW's Skills For Life Training Courses, enhancing refreshing and developing employees skills. The course consists of interactive communication skills incorporating ICT, team-building, increasing employees' confidence, productivity and standards within the working environment. At each stage of the ReGROW process professional Employer Engagement Officers will support, advise and help the employee and employer to achieve their objectives.

To help career changers or those trying to get back into the workplace courses include 'C.V & Application Form Sessions / Job Search', 'Moving on - Return to Learn', 'Starting Your Own Business' and 'Skills For Life & ESOL' covering literacy and numeracy. 'Secure in Work, Secure In Mind' looks at ill health, disability, age and the law, and 'Planning For Retirement' explores finance, interests, travel, health, fitness, hopes and concerns.

Computer courses include 'Introduction to ICT Skills', 'Introduction to ICT', 'Intermediate ICT', 'Internet', 'Outlook and Email', 'Introduction to Excel', 'Microsoft Access', 'Managing Data with Access', 'Creative Computing' and 'Desktop Publishing'.

Work-related training includes 'Beat that Stress', 'Time Management', 'Assertiveness at Work', 'Conflict Management', 'Customer Care Service (Level 1 & 2)', 'Customer Service - Happier Customers & Happier Staff, Gaining More Market', 'Presentation Skills' and 'Equality, Diversity & Cultural Awareness'.

Those working in accounts can study 'Introduction to Bookkeeping' and 'Sage Line 50'. For health & safety officers and first aiders there is 'Health & Safety Awareness (CIEH)', 'Health & Safety in the Workplace Level 2' (CIEH), 'First Aid at Work', 'Four-Day First Aid at Work Training - HSE Approved' and 'Fire Marshall Training'.

Other specialist courses include 'Training For Sales Staff', 'Manual Handling' (CIEH), 'BJT Static And Patrol Officers' (SIA Licence) for a security qualification, 'COSHH' (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) (CIEH), 'Moving and Open Water Safety' and 'Food Safety in Catering Level 2'.

For leisure time, a variety of arts courses and workshops are available including batik, decoupage, drawing and painting, glass painting, silk painting, mosaics, printmaking, casting and moulding and further art areas.

Community Researchers is a course covering questioning and listening techniques, carrying out research and presenting the findings, for those who identify issues of common concern that local residents could investigate.

Healthy Families covers emotional as well as physical health, including diet, safety, social activities, behaviour, communication, stress, relaxation and time management.

In addition, they can arrange further courses not listed that better suit the requirements of an organisation. Once you have identified the appropriate courses, you can contact ReGROW's Employer Engagement Officers to discuss the delivery process.

More information can be found at: www.a4e.co.uk

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