In Greater Manchester, nearly half of people aged 55-64 are out of work or in low pay. The Centre for Ageing Better and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) are working with people over 50, employers, borough councils and local service providers to develop and test new solutions to tackle this.

Alan was made redundant after working as a mechanic for 17 years. A further blow came when his redundancy payment was for only eight-and-a-half years, rather than the full 17. It took him a couple of years to find a new job as a driver for a plant hire company and by then the redundancy money was gone. Last year Alan was unloading a lorry when the load fell on him and broke his leg. He hasn’t been able to work since and now there isn’t a position to return to. His leg hurts if he sits too long so another driving job seems out of the question. At 62, Alan doesn’t expect to find work again, even though he still has five years until he can draw his pension.