L to R: Baroness Dido Harding, Stuart Morris- FDM Consultant, Lucy Standing – Cofounder Brave Starts, Lisa Kim MacLaren, and Robert Newry – CEO of Arctic Shores.
Leading voices from business, government and advocacy are warning that UK employers must urgently adapt to the needs of an ageing workforce, or risk deepening skills shortages and economic inequalities.
The event, hosted by Brave Starts and senior parliamentarians, took place on 10 June 2025 at the House of Lords. The event focused on supporting the needs of an ageing workforce, convening leaders from recruitment, trade bodies, employers, the media, advocacy groups, and academic and government representatives to explore actionable solutions to consider within their own spheres of influence.
The event was attended by industry leaders, notably Head of Policy for 50Plus Employment Support of the Department for Work and Pensions, President of CIPD, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Partner at Barclays Bank, CEO of Jobs Foundation and Head of Returners at FDM Group.
Millions of older workers face systemic barriers to recruitment, from age-biased algorithms in online job platforms to outdated assumptions about the agility of the older workforce, to rigid job specifications which are exclusionary to those who require flexible or part-time roles. In many sectors, standard hiring procedures disproportionately filter out experienced candidates over 50 irrespective of skills, experience or attitude.
With one in three UK workers expected to be aged 50 or older by 2030, employers who fail to modernise their recruitment and workplace practices risk exacerbating skills gaps and missing out on valuable experience and expertise. Sarah Mavius, Head of Returners Programme at FDM Group, commented:
“Ensuring older workers aren’t sidelined in the UK labour market is crucial and events such as these mark a significant moment in the campaign to shift attitudes and prioritise a workforce built on inclusivity, one which embraces the capabilities of the entire workforce, regardless of age. We are at an exciting point in industries such as technology where data and AI are at the heart of business operations. Bringing older workers into these sectors, providing them with the latest training and supporting their journey, whether they’re returning to work or entering a new industry, is critical. Alongside this, businesses need to create an environment where multi-generational workforces can thrive, providing equal opportunities to empower people from all ages to be at the forefront of the tech revolution.”
The event builds on mounting evidence and discourse that modernising employment practices, from unbiased recruitment tools to more flexible and inclusive workplace policies, which are key to both economic resilience and social well-being.
