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News
19th June 2005
'Over 50s preferred'
A report from pensions company, Prudential, finds that 40% of people
planning their retirement want to continue to work to supplement
their incomes. It also finds that almost a million people keen to
work have been unable to get a job because of their age.
Yet business advisor network, Initiatives in Business Development
Group Ltd, (ibd) says that there is plenty of work
for older people but the opportunities are with smaller firms and
not the big companies. And ibd should know. They
have grown an international business by matching the skills of older
experienced people with the needs of smaller firms needing help
as they seek to grow and be profitable. All across London, organisations
like ibd are crying out for older managers to join
them. All are looking to recruit experienced people from all disciplines,
people who have been around the block a few times and who have hands-on
expertise they are willing to share.
These organisations offer training and support systems and enable
older, mature people to earn a good income by sharing their years
of experience with new owner managers who have the energy and enthusiasm
but who lack business, professional and managerial skills.
For all these organisations age is a positive advantage. According
to Richard Bartlett, an ibd business advisor working
in North London, “ Without the grey hairs and the gravitas
a few years in the job has given you, it is very difficult to be
taken seriously when you are helping a business.”
And there is good news for women and older managers whose roots
are Asian, Afro – Carrribean or from the Indian sub-continent.
The UK government has made millions of pounds of grants available
for small firms owned by women or by people from ethnic minorities.
This money has been allocated to enable them to buy help to grow
their firms but there is a huge shortage of suitable people with
the skills and experience to help them.
So as competitive pressures force multi-nationals to shed older
managers and to move employment out of the capital, the world of
work has not closed its doors. Well over 90% of all businesses in
London employ less than 20 people, most are profitable and most
owners agree that they operate inefficiently. Owners of small and
medium sized business work desperately hard and they don’t
have the time or the knowledge to think about how they could improve.
They can’t afford the fees commanded by management consultants
yet they have the same problems of managing cash flow, recruiting
people and complying with legislation as do the big corporations
and the multinationals. They are desperate for help.
So if you have experience of management and have had to accept
a P45 or to take enforced early retirement, you are not on the scrap
heap. There is an exciting future out there for you. Broaden your
horizons. Take your training and your skills and help London’s
smaller and medium sized firms, you will be welcomed with open arms
and you can earn yourself a good living. More information about
ibd can be found on www.ibd-uk.com
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About ibd
Terry Forrester – now the group managing director- and marketing
director, Alan Ford, founded initiatives in Business Developments
Ltd. (ibd) in 2002. Now a 300 strong membership
organisation, ibd works with start-ups and small
to medium sized businesses offering hands on business development
advice and implementation support.
ibd members typically are experienced, senior
managers who bring maturity and experience and who have previously
held senior level positions in business. ibd operates
throughout the European Union and a South African operation will
be launched in 2005.
For more information contact Rosie Featherstone on 01332 862 073.
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