Pictured above: Deborah Martin, David Colley, Tracy Burrell (D&G), Chris Ball (TAEN), Josh Collett (AARP), Angela Eagle MP, Tom Nelson (AARP) and Dennis Gissing (BT).

DOMESTIC & General's (D&G) Nottingham-based call centre has received an international award for the pioneering way it recruits staff members of all ages - for the second year running!

This is the second year in a row that the group's Nottingham-based call centre has been awarded the renowned AARP International Innovative Employer award, which recognises employers adopting policies and practices favourable to older workers.

D&G won the award in recognition of the company's commitment to recruit people across all age groups.  The award has ten international winners and D&G was one of only three winners that are based in the UK, the other two were BT and Centrica.

The AARP International Innovative Employers Award is designed to recognise non US-based employers that have demonstrated a ground-breaking workforce or human resource procedures addressing issues relevant to workers aged 50 and over. It is promoted in the UK by TAEN - The Age and Employment Network.

D&G is the UK's largest specialist provider of service contracts on domestic electrical equipment. The firm employs over 700 people at its Nottingham call centre which opened in 1997.  Its age diversity policy ensures that all age groups that apply and start work at the Talbot Street call centre are recruited and trained in a way that meets their needs and ensures that no bias enters the decision-making process.

Tracy Burrell, HR manager at D&G says: "We are over the moon to receive this recognition for the second year running. It is amazing that we are really being recognised for what we do and that we have impressed the judges once again with our commitment to being age positive.

"When people ring into D&G, it's often because they have an appliance which is faulty, or because they need technical support from us. People who call us are calling with a problem, or are ringing to register a warranty, and we do have a sales bias as well. But our organisation is about helping people, resolving problems and that is why we have a lot of success with mature workers because they have empathy and shared experiences with our clients.

"The AARP award takes our recognition from the UK onto an international stage and is a development of which we are extremely proud. We are delighted to be members of TAEN who drew the award to our attention and supported our entry."

David Colley, HR business partner at D&G said: ""I love working here for the very reason of diversity and how D&G recognises people as individuals and what they can bring to the organisation. D&G's call centre advisers are contacted by people with appliance breakdowns. Older advisers not only have good attendance records and can mentor younger colleagues, but also empathise with customers.

Chris Ball, Chief Executive of TAEN said: "It is great that for the second year running the team at D&G is being recognised for the way it recruits older members of staff - they really are a shining example to other companies across not only the region, but the country. 

"It is vital to help people from a wide range of ages to stay in the workforce and to show people that no matter what their age, everyone can perform to a high standard. The award recognised the good work, and the way that adaptability in a flexible way promotes learning."

Positivity about age at both ends of the spectrum has been a key focus for D&G for many years. The company has received a number of age positive awards reflecting its practice of tailoring recruitment procedures and training around the needs of people so that no-one is disadvantaged. 

AARP is a US based not-for-profit organisation representing the interests of more than 40 million members aged 50 and over. It is an international organisation, with a proven effective lobbying function for this age group, and with membership mainly within the US.