The Alexander Bain Awarded Employer Champion Status

10th May 2006

Local employer recognised for age friendly policies

Wick bar, The Alexander Bain, has been praised as part of a national campaign aimed at tackling age discrimination in the workplace. The Age Positive campaign has awarded JD Wetherspoon "Employer Champion" status, which means it joins an elite list of employers from across Great Britain who exemplify an open-minded approach to hiring staff of all ages.

The news comes during Age Positive Week (8-12 May), when a series of awareness-raising events to inform employers and the public about age discrimination and to celebrate the benefits of age diversity will be held across Scotland.

Recruitment manager, Sarah Carter, said: "This is a great accolade - especially as Wetherspoon is the first company within the pub industry to achieve it. Part of our success results from being innovative and progressive, and this is reflected in our employment policies.

"Employing a diverse workforce of people of all ages benefits individual pubs such as The Alexander Bain and the company as a whole. We work very closely with Jobcentre Plus and actively encourage our pub managers to recruit staff primarily for skills and ability. Age is not an issue.

"As a result of our success, we will be able to display the Age Positive Employer Champion Status logo on all of our recruitment material, which will highlight that Wetherspoon is committed to tackling age discrimination within the workplace."

For further details on Age Positive and Age Positive Week, please visit
www.agepositive.gov.uk

Legislation comes into force in October to outlaw age discrimination in the workplace. Employers can request free information on the legislation, by calling the Age Partnership Group on 0845 715 2000 or by emailing apg[AT]isky.co.uk . Further information can be found at www.agepositive.gov.uk/agepartnershipgroup