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A new initiative is helping employers in the West of England create more age-friendly workplaces by supporting the wellbeing and retention of staff aged 55 and over.
The programme, Thrive 55: Building Age-Friendly Workplaces, has been launched by the National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM) with funding from the St Monica Trust Charitable Foundation. It aims to help organisations understand and remove barriers faced by older employees and to promote an age-positive culture that benefits the whole workforce.
Participating organisations receive free support to co-produce wellbeing action plans, taking part in a series of short, structured sessions totalling under 20 hours. The process includes a wellbeing breakfast for senior leaders, strategy co-production days, and a full wellbeing experience at NCIM’s Ham Green House near Bristol.
NCIM says the initiative will equip leaders to implement practical workplace changes, including more flexible policies and targeted wellbeing strategies. The goal is to foster a culture that values experience and supports employees to thrive later in their careers.
Evidence shows that supporting older workers can help organisations retain skills, reduce absenteeism, and strengthen morale. By addressing the physical and emotional changes that can affect employees in later life, NCIM hopes the project will encourage more inclusive, resilient workplaces where age is viewed as an asset rather than a barrier.
Funded places are available for employers based in the West of England, with sessions expected to run over a 12-week period.
Organisations interested in joining the programme can register through NCIM’s website.
