A COMPANY which began life as a recruitment agency is ageing well.

Prime50plus was launched in 2002 to focus on helping older people into work.

Now it has diversified to become an online “lifestyle” business – offering a wealth of information to the over-50s on subjects including travel and leisure, property, work and learning, shopping, dating and friendship, health and money.

Managing director Paul Kern said: “We have significant experience in dealing with the issues facing the 50-plus age group – and we are ideally placed to address the wider requirements of this ‘well-heeled’ and discerning community.”

Mr Kern said the website – www.Prime50plus.co.uk – aimed to present information in a humorous, interesting and professional manner.

Readers were encouraged to get involved via a “Your Opinion” section. A debate forum will also be included shortly.

Mr Kern said: “The rapidly growing 50-plus market in the UK now accounts for 20m adults – 42% of the adult population – and has a cumulative disposable income of more than £175bn.

“This equates to 30% more spending power than the under 50s.

“There are now more people aged 50 to 60 than 16 to 24 – and by 2020 more than 40% of the population will be older than 50.”

Prime50plus is part of the Prime Partners group of companies, based at the Media Centre, Northumberland Street.

The company was originally set up as a local recruitment agency matching the skills and expertise of mature workers with the needs of employers. This was later extended to cover the whole of the UK.

The agency even attracted recruitment enquiries from as far afield as Canada and Australia, Singapore and China.

Mr Kern said the change in direction followed the introduction of age legislation in 2006, which restricted Prime50plus in its principal role of focusing on recruitment.

But he said continued interest from advertisers and jobseekers resulted in the decision to develop a 50-plus lifestyle site.

Prime Partners includes recruitment sites PrimeXperience, Prime Professional and PrimeMploy and website design business Prime Creative.