The feature on 90-year-old bodybuilder Toshisuke Kanazawa was delightful and thought-provoking. Despite Japan having nearly 30% of its population over the age of 64, individuals like Kanazawa continue to make significant contributions well into their 90s, rather than being sidelined.

In contrast, the situation in Britain is quite different. Each year, between 670,000 and 860,000 individuals leave the UK workforce, with over a third of people in their 60s becoming economically inactive. This represents a considerable loss of valuable experience and expertise that simply exits the workforce.

Germany presents a potential solution with its Senior Expert Service, established in 1983. This initiative boasts a network of over 14,000 retired professionals and has successfully facilitated more than 60,000 placements by pairing retired engineers, accountants, military veterans, and skilled tradespeople with small businesses, charities, and educational institutions that can benefit from their knowledge. Unfortunately, no similar program exists in the UK. Additionally, there are nearly 1 million young individuals who are neither employed nor engaged in education or training. Utilizing the time and expertise of older adults to assist these young people could prove invaluable.

Implementing modest pilot programs in a few sectors, inspired by the German model, could quickly demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of such an approach.

The inspiring tale of Kanazawa should not only evoke admiration for an extraordinary individual but also prompt a critical examination of whether the UK is squandering a valuable resource: the wealth of experience possessed by thousands of older professionals who are prematurely retired each year.

Alan Coppin
Author, The Human Capital Imperative: Valuing Your Talent

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