This project invited both people aged 45 years and over and companies in the Thames Gateway to develop their skills and share the training experience. Led by Medway Council, Equal has taken a multi-agency approach to overcome the barriers associated with the employment of older workers. It is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).

Equal underpins the European Employment Strategy by researching and funding new ways of engaging with employers, promoting innovative solutions to employing, and retaining people.

Equal works in stages called actions:

• Action 1
  Research determined the recruitment and development of eight local partners and three international partners (from Poland, Austria and Germany) to prepare a joint programme of activities between September 2004 and June 2005.
• Action 2
  This was the implementation and delivery phase, creating learning opportunities for older people from July 2005 to December 2007. It was developed to enhance the Thames Gateway skills base and find out more about the factors that prevent older people getting work.
• Action 3
  This involved working with other Equal projects to share good practice in print and at special events, from July 2006 until December 2007.

• leadership skills;
• team management;
• word processing;
• spreadsheets;
• 16th edition wiring regulations;
• train the trainer;
• presentation and public speaking skills;
• portable appliance training.

Some of these courses also provided a qualification, for example: Computer Literacy and information Technology (CLAIT) or a fork-lift truck licence.