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ABOUT SWOOP

In the recent past, there have been a number of studies and publications that raised the issue of the changing demographic that recognises increased longevity, diminishing birth rates, a demographic that questions the readiness of governments and others to deal with the implications of these issues.

In the late 1990s, the European parliament identified a need for member states to tackle this issue, recognising its implication to the economy, services, education, training and employment. Member states were encouraged to improve their treatment of older citizens by adopting codes of best practice. In the UK , the most obvious example in the field of employment was the creation of the Age Positive programme by the Department of Work and Pensions. This was an attempt to raise the awareness of UK employers of changing demographics, and how these demographics might affect their businesses. Although many employers were exposed to this awareness-raising over a five year period, less than 20% are thought to have adopted formalised positive age practices in their companies. Nevertheless, the experience has provided many useful resources to help employers respond to the new age legislation.

The South West of England has the highest proportion of its population of older people over the age of 50 of any region in England . One very obvious reason for this is the migration of older people from other parts of the UK , usually upon retirement from work. Another is the movement away from the area by those in work seeking broader career and job opportunities. One further reason was, until recently, a steady decline in birth rates.

In this climate, after having completed its own research into age and employability, the University of Exeter ’s Marchmont Observatory, provider of Skills and Learning Intelligence, worked with a number of key age champions to create a project that would develop support and services to older people who wished to continue to work. After securing funds, the University of Exeter , together with representatives from NIACE and TAEN set about creating a partnership of agencies and organisations that had something to contribute to the work. The partnership was established with members from the voluntary sector, government agencies, regional and national bodies and the private sector.

Since June 2005 the SWOOP partnership has developed a range of activities designed to support individuals, to assist employers, to conduct research, and to capture information and ideas that can be shared with those whose job it is to make long-term decisions for the region.

The project work of the partnership will continue until December 2007. After that date – who knows? But we hope that SWOOP will have forged strong relationships between its partners that can continue to provide support to older people. We want the lessons and the learning from the project to provide real ideas to decision makers about future support, services and funding. We want employers in the South West – and beyond the region – to recognise and value older employees. And finally, we want to ensure that older people wishing to work can do so, in a positive labour market with the support of employers who value them.