Case study

Natural Gas Services

Age Positive Champion

Regional Winner - Age Positive Awards 2000 & 2001

Natural Gas Services Ltd was set up in 1995 by five former British Gas engineers and managers in their 40s and 50s. Instead of planning for early retirement, we set up our own company. We now run a successful gas installation and service company based in Hull, which has increased turnover threefold.

We realised from the beginning that we needed a balance of ages in our workforce. We knew we had a lot of experience we could share and tumble down to younger employees to ensure continuity. We also knew that we could learn from the younger employees in relation to IT and new ways of working.

Roy Bailey, Managing Director

OUR AGE POSITIVE GOOD PRACTICE:

We first read about Age Positive in our local newspaper. We registered our interest right away. We had operated an Age Diversity Policy for some time, then felt it would be beneficial to have the Policy written down, which is communicated to all staff via newsletters and Development Group Meetings.

We recruit from all age groups – 48, 31, 18, 26… Each end of the scale has something to give and learn - and that benefits our staff and the company as a whole.

Our commitment to training and developing staff regardless of age is demonstrated by us being awarded Investors In People. Our staff in ages ranging from 20 through to several in their 50s have received training.

BENEFITS OF OUR GOOD PRACTICE:

We became regional winners in the Age Positive Awards 2000 and 2001, and gained some excellent publicity. We were singled out for praise by the judge, and it was good to be recognised for setting up the company at our time of life and also for our ideas about getting a mix of young and old people on board.

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