The head of a pioneering London anti-ageism recruitment agency that has spent over a decade fighting for justice in the workplace has been honoured by the government just months before the new Age Legislation Act becomes law.
Spencer Jacobs, MD at Forties People, picked up the London Region Individual Award at the Age Positive Awards 2006 at Whitehallís Banqueting House - and immediately pledged to carry on fighting against ageism in the workplace.
He said: ìThe award endorses my agencyís long-running campaign to end age discrimination at work. The new Act is a welcome step forward but the campaign must go on to ensure the law is properly policed.
At Forties People we have witnessed at first hand the hard evidence of discrimination.
Over recent years large numbers of mature workers have been consigned to the scrapheap by ageist employers who said they only wanted younger people on board. î
He added: ìMy mother founded this agency after being made redundant herself at 50. Although highly qualified she couldnít find another job and launched Forties People to help other victims of ageism. Just before she retired five years ago she won a similar Age Positive award ñ Iím proud to follow in her foot stepsî.
ìWe will continue to bang the age diversity drum at both our London and Watford branches for as long as it takes for all companies to adhere to both the letter and the spirit of the new regulations. Age is irrelevant. It has to be about skill sets ñ and we are championing a change in both culture and attitude towards ageismî
A spokesperson from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) said: ìRecruitment agencies are frequently given discriminatory instructions by clients but Forties People consistently proves that by challenging this discrimination and encouraging employers to consider candidates on their merits they get better workers.î
Anti-Ageism Award Is Just The Job For London Recruitment Chief
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