an invitation from Steve Anderson, Founder of Social Enterprise for Age Diversity, Prime Candidate, and Designer of the Champion Age Diversity charter

We exhibited at the Weston-super-Mare jobs fair last week, a tremendous event where we met with many candidates and employers.

We were pleased to welcome John Penrose, MP to our stand. John Penrose is a keen supporter of age diversity, and recognises the important contribution that mature workers can bring to an organisation. We are delighted that Mr.Penrose identifies Prime Candidate as the primary vehicle of hope, aspiration and delivery, for both employers and job seekers.

Job seekers registering with Prime Candidate receive a wide range of employability support, that also includes a tangible opportunity to find work. This is achieved through our ever increasing engagement with employers who advertise their open job vacancies with us. These employers know the benefits and values that a balanced workforce can bring to their organisation, and by working with us, we eliminate negative bias that is quite often found in the recruitment market.

“the only organisation providing a practical approach for age diversity”

Employers also adopt the policy and governance, and become members of, the ‘Champion Age Diversity’ charter. Champions benefit from a powerful and progressive environment where best practice is defined and disseminated. Employers can also consolidate values and best practice across diversity agenda streams, there is no reason to leave any diversity and inclusion areas behind. Employees benefit from the retention and development programmes that Champions instil. Such policy results in improved performance and productivity, so producing more employment opportunities.

The diversity and inclusion agenda is broad and deep, requiring important strategic direction from employers to ensure a fair and compliant outlook. The Champions charter helps organisations meet their age objectives and commitments, easing resource and onerous processing demands, to enable Champions to focus on delivering their complete and all inclusive diversity programmes.

Prime Candidate is the only organisation providing a practical approach for age diversity, for both employers and job seekers, and as a Social Enterprise, we offer a unique opportunity for employers to procure with social awareness.

This is a huge opportunity for communities and businesses, to develop and sustain skills and well-being. The more ‘Champions’ we have, the greater potential to: improve knowledge and mitigate skills gaps; provide balanced employment opportunities; improve social attitudes and communities; reduce welfare needs; whilst giving a strong boost to the economy.

More and more companies are seeking to establish themselves as a committed employer for diversity. Employers want to demonstrate these values, both for existing staff to retain and develop skills, but also to the outside world, to be seen as an equal opportunity employer, and one that recognises how experience and know-how can be brought in to sustain knowledge and develop opportunities in new technologies and processes.

Such values are highly prized, and also now sought after in how business is transacted. Employers are fast becoming aware of social enterprise (incl. the social value act), and the opportunity to trade and procure, coupled to social awareness. As a social enterprise, we offer a further route for organisations to demonstrate their attitude towards enhancement of social economies that ultimately benefit everyone.

Yes, this is a great task, but with involvement from organisations who value diversity, I know we can make a positive difference, and the ‘Champions’ mark will become a globally recognised image of support and change.