COMPANIES and employees who challenge age discrimination in the workplace could be in line for an award.

The Northern Echo is supporting the Government's Age Diversity Campaign by sponsoring a regional award in the area.

The award is aimed at recognising firms and employees who have stamped out age prejudice in the workplace.

Almost one in four people in Britain cannot get a job because of their age, despite the fact the population is getting older. At present, 27 per cent of people are over 50, and in five years' time almost 36 per cent of the working population will be over 45.

But while people are staying healthy and living longer they are prevented from making a proper and positive contribution to society because age is being used as a criteria for recruitment by more than 50 per cent of employers.

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Employment and Equal Opportunities, said: "Too many older people in Britain today are relegated to early retirement and long-term life on the dole. The challenge is to change attitudes.

"It's time for businesses to wake up to the benefits that an age diverse workforce can bring.

"Age Diversity asks employers to concentrate on getting the best person for the job, regardless or age, and making sure they have the skills or experience needed to do the job."

The Northern Echo is inviting people to write in if they feel individuals or firms in the region have made efforts to challenge age discrimination.

One award will be given to someone who has successfully overcome the problems of age discrimination in obtaining employment or changing career direction, while the other will be for local companies who can demonstrate a positive practice towards age diversity, through recruitment, training or development.

Two regional winners will be invited to a prize-winner's lunch in London on October 12.

Nominations for the Age Diversity Regional Award should be sent to The Northern Echo Newsdesk, PO Box 14, Priestgate, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 1NF.