THE clock is ticking on an Examiner-backed campaign to recognise people who are helping to stamp out age discrimination in the work place.
Together with Age Positive - a Government initiative to tackle ageism - we want your nominations for individuals and companies trying to stop social prejudice about age.
We are calling for your nominations for the national Age Positive Awards 2006 in two categories:
* The Employer Category - for employers who can demonstrate that they have a positive attitude towards age diversity in their recruitment, training and development.
* The Individual Category - for an individual who can demonstrate how they overcame age discrimination in getting a job or making a career change.
Yorkshire Water scooped an Age Positive award in 2004 for its commitment towards equal opportunities and changing stereotypical attitudes towards younger and older workers.
Richard Neville, the water company's employee relations manager, said: "One graduate recruit was 35 when she joined two years ago and we've also taken on a number of new recruits who are over 60.
"Koshy Zachariah, for example, joined us as an IT business analyst in 2002 and will be 65 next May. He plans to continue his career with us as long as possible."
Vitally, there were also major breakthroughs at the other end of the age spectrum too.
Mr Neville said: "One shining example joined at 16 and became a plant engineer at 19, compared to an average age of 45 for this role."
Yorkshire Water is now ranked as the most efficient water company in the country by its regulator OfWat.
Mr Neville has no doubt why.
"It's due in no small part to the widening of our age profile and other diversity practices," he says.
For an entry form visit the website www.agepositive.gov.uk or contact Lauren Hamburger at Geronimo Communications, 87-91 Newman Street, London W1T 3EY or you can email lauren.hamburger@geronimo communications.com
The closing date for the entries is April 14.
