Over-45s career development and recruitment agency Blue Tree is in danger of discriminating against younger workers, according to the Recruitment Society.

The career management firm, which is part of Careers Bradford and which targets the over-45s, aims to expand into a recruitment agency later this month.

However, Steve Huxham, chairman of the Recruitment Society, urged caution. “We know that ageism exists in the marketplace,” he said. “What you have to ask yourself is whether, by offering this type of service, this is ageism itself. In term of re-skilling and re-training, I think it is fair to say that older people need more help because they have probably stayed in a company longer than someone who is in their 20s or 30s.

“However, companies have to be make sure that they don’t discriminate against younger people.”

Alan Gleghorn, manager of Blue Tree, said he believed his firm provided a much-needed service to the over 45s. “The concern of the over-45-year-old worker who has lost his or her job through redundancy or sacking is very different from the average 25-year-old,” he said. “We encourage and advise those who walk through our doors that it is possible to find another job.”

Age Concern, the charity which campaigns for the rights of the over-50s, welcomed the initiative. A spokesperson said: “We would broadly support any scheme that that enables older people who are not in employment to find work.”