ReGROW – Strengthening the Older Workforce
A4e have been involved in a major pilot programme, working with Professor Stephen McNair at the Centre of Research into the Older Workforce (CROW) at the University of Surrey in the UK.
The project was funded by the South East Region of the LSC, with funds from the European Social Fund, between 2006 and 2008.
ReGROW, the pilot programme was a unique programme in A4e’s history aimed at up-skilling people over 50 to enable them to remain effective and productive at work. The ReGROW programme looked at supporting existing Older Workers, and their employers, already in employment but who may be at risk of unemployment. The design principle of ReGROW was that a small investment in preventing unemployment among Older Worker pays huge social and economic dividends to the individual, the employer and the State
The projects key aims were to break down barriers by providing older workers with career guidance, tailored training and mentoring to help increase their retention in the workforce, ensuring that they are better deployed.
This was one of the largest attempts to provide guidance to older workers ever conducted. In addition to delivering IAG, training and mentoring to individuals, the project aimed to learn lessons for the future development of such services, including Train to Gain, the Adult Advancement and Careers Services and the South East 40-70 Workforce programme.
Key Messages
- ReGROW demonstrates a high level of potential demand for the Adult Advancement and Careers Service to provide careers advice for employees in the workplace.
- ReGROW shows that older employees require tailored support (careers advice, short training modules and, in some cases, ongoing mentoring) rather than lengthy training courses.
- ReGROW shows that this can be delivered cost effectively (at a unit price less than £1000 on average per participant).
View the full evaluation report or download the summary.
If you would like further information on ReGROW or ROW please contact Mark Shields mshields@a4e.co.uk