The government is still learning the best ways to get more mature workers back into employment, according to its older workers’ tsar Dr Ros Altmann.

Last week the Conservatives announced a number of back-to-work support options would be trialled, including work experience and training opportunities for the over 45s, effectively lowering by five years the government’s original target threshold.

“There is no hard and fast age cut off that one would say ‘beyond this age this is important, beyond that age, this is important’. We are learning,” Altmann (left) told Recruiter. 

“We’re trying to see what works and how we can best help people who we know want to get back to work and we know face difficulties. 

“We are trying to do more to help the older applicants be successful in their job search and that’s coming in via the job centres where we’re trialling different programmes to help people,” said Altmann. 

“Sometimes it’s combining caring with work and sometimes it’s individual skills, help that they may need assistance with – technology is one of them.”

Altmann was appointed older workers’ champion last July by then pensions minister Steve Webb. In March she published a report setting out recommendations to recognise the value of older workers and keep them in work. 

Following her appointment as pensions minister after the Conservatives victory in May’s general election, Altmann told Recruiter she was keen to continue her work with getting older people back into employment. 

Meanwhile, in a separate announcement this morning, the government said it will in April 2017 launch ‘boot camps’ in April 2017 for people aged between 18 and 21 who have just signed on for unemployment benefits.

Those attending the boot camps will benefit from a CV workshop as well as an individual programme co-ordinator who will help them with ‘softer skills’ such as interview practice, group work and communication skills.