Sir Alex Ferguson has backed the Age Positive campaign to combat ageism at work.

The 62-year-old Manchester United manager said: “Age is simply a matter of mind and is something we should not be afraid to face, especially in the workplace.”

But a spokesperson for Robert Half Management Resources said UK businesses were not prepared for older workers.

One in 12 of the professionals featured in the firm’s most recent salary survey said they had been victims of age discrimination.

Recruiter is backing September’s Age Positive Recruitment Excellence Awards, promoting age diversity.