Skilled employees don’t go past their sell-by date
Anew campaign to encourage employers to invest in their older employees’ skills has been launched.
Ray Thomas, 63, started working at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water 40 years ago in the same week his uncle retired after 33 years of service. He now works in the company’s technical training centre after years of continuous professional development, having written his first dissertation at the age of 62.
Mr Thomas and his employer are now supporting the Welsh Government’s Age of Investment initiative, which is intended to highlight to employers across Wales the importance of retaining their older workers.
The campaign warns employers that within the next five years, one in three people of working age will be over 50.
Therefore, investing in skills throughout an employee’s working life has never been more important.
“I started off digging holes and repairing mains when I was 23,” said Mr Thomas.
“I sensed straight away that this was a place where you learn. I was given all the practical skills, and in this business there is a lot of multiskilling.
“I’ve worked with the leakage team, with customer service and as a water inspector. I’ve travelled abroad with the company – for example there was a trip to Norway to look at their industry’s best practice.
“I’ve been on BBC’s Crimewatch helping with a case which saw bogus callers pretending to be from utility companies trying to rip people off. I’ve even been in schools helping classes build papier-mache waterworks!”
Mr Thomas has been a technical trainer for the past six years after taking a teaching course. He now runs two-day sessions, working 38 hours a week, as well as being on operational standby.
Linda Williams, director of human resources at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, said: “More than 10% of our new recruits over the last two years have been over 50. They’re electricians, mechanical fitters, scientists and chartered engineers, procurement specialists and customer advisers.
“We hire for expertise and many of these employees bring skills that are scarce. We also see how people who bring years of experience to the workplace can hit the ground running.”
As part of the Age of Investment initiative, the Welsh Government has teamed up with BITC Cymru, the Learning and Work Institute and the Older People’s Commissioner to launch the People Don’t Have a Best Before Date campaign, designed to challenge the stereotypes of older workers and demonstrate their value in the workplace.
Mr Thomas is one of 11 employees selected to feature in the campaign from a cross-section of exemplary Welsh businesses that have shown a commitment to investing in an all-age workforce.
People Don’t Have a Best Before Date will combine radio and digital advertising, as well as downloadable advice guides and toolkits to illustrate to employers the business benefits of creating a multi-generational workforce.
Julie James AM, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Skills and Science, explained: “Older workers are vital for the future prosperity of our economy and our businesses.
“Retaining people, developing their skills throughout their working life and recruiting older workers has never been more critical to business survival as well as growth.
“Our workforce in Wales is getting older and young people joining the labour market will not fill all of the vacancies.
“This campaign is designed to encourage all employers – but particularly SMEs, where the loss of skills and cost of recruitment can be more consequential – that they need older workers to survive and grow.
“We hope it will reinforce the issue to Welsh businesses of all sizes and give them practical advice on how they can manage and retain the skills and experience of their older workers, and appeal to the market of older recruits,” added Ms James.