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CHAPTER 14
Realising the potential of older workers in Scotland 273

Stage 1.
Recruitment
A range of approaches was adopted to recruit individuals into the programme,
including use of the press, through trusted intermediaries and directly with
companies in partnership with human resource managers and union
representatives. This stratified approach proved successful with no real
challenge presented in recruiting participants and resulted in 134 individuals
participating in the programme. However, this approach may not necessarily
have reached those who most need support. This is discussed further in the
following section.

Personal exploration
This phase was a crucial, individualised, part of the programme. The idea
supporting this approach was that each person is unique and has different
needs and aspirations. By providing an opportunity for individuals to discuss
these in a more private setting, it was anticipated that they would be more
open and receptive to sharing and discussing their ideas within a group
environment further on in the project. Essentially, this was adopting an
executive coaching approach whereby individuals were encouraged to plan
ahead and begin the process of identifying goals.
The personal exploration phase consisted of project staff using a semi-
structured questionnaire split into four sections. The first was reflective in
nature and aimed to capture the individualʼs qualifications and learning
experiences throughout their life. It also elicited any barriers to learning that
may have existed and restricted participation. The second considered what
the individual would like to learn in the future, covering areas such as learning
for career progression or for leisure. The third reflected on employment
experiences and whether the individual had changed career direction, taken
a career break, either forced or voluntary, and discussed the likelihood of the
individual working beyond statutory retirement age. The final section
concluded by encouraging the individual to consider future aspirations,
whether professional or personal.
The personalised approach taken at this stage achieved a greater insight
into individualsʼ past and encouraged them to reflect on past experiences,
which helped build a degree of confidence, particularly when remembering
positive periods in their lives. It also provided a foundation for the learning
programme and encouraged individuals to start thinking about the future.