You're invited to participate in our research.
The Inclusivity Project aims to understand the reasons for the employment gap in Cornwall for older (50+) working people.If you’re a Cornwall-based SME owner or senior staff member, who is employing – or could employ– an older worker (50+), you are invited to take part in a University of Exeter research project.
I’d call you, and interview you for my research. We can do it on the phone, or by online call, such as Zoom or Skype if you prefer. It would take around 1 hour, should be quite fun and engaging, and the findings of the research would be reported back to you for your further feedback.
In comparison to younger people, older people in Cornwall are less likely to be employed, stay in employment for long periods, and get back to employment after leaving it.
The project aims to improve our understanding of the causes for this employment gap and, based on this understanding, develop ways to tackle these causes and reduce the gap through policy and practice.
We need your insight to help us understand the causes of these employment experiences.
In the interview, we want to hear your thoughts about:
- Why there is an employment gap in Cornwall.
- What factors lead to the employment gap in Cornwall.
- How those factors impact each other.
- What the best possible actions are to close the employment gap in Cornwall.
- How the COVID-19 crisis has impacted those factors, as explored, that lead to the employment gap.
- What actions should be taken to prevent widening that employment gap in Cornwall due to COVID-19.
- Your own personal experience in terms of employment of older people that you would like to share that might be of value for other SME owners, policy-makers, and researchers in tackling the employment gap.
You can find more information about this piece of research here:
Who should participate? We are interested in speaking to any Cornwall-based SME owner or senior staff member who is employing or could employ an older worker.
When will this happen? We aim to conduct the interviews during the months of June-December 2020
How will this happen? The interviews will typically be conducted via telephone or via online video conferencing. Anyone who would like to participate who needs alternative arrangements should get in touch to discuss them. You will be asked if we can record the interview to enable us to take accurate records.
What will happen to my data? Your data will play an important part in our project. Your contribution will be anonymous and treated confidentially. Only members of the academic research team will have access to the anonymised data. The data will be stored securely and will be deleted once the project is completed.
This project has been approved by the University of Exeter ethics review panel. This research is based on informed consent and you will be asked to review and confirm that you understand the purpose of the project and your rights in it before any data is collected. This includes making sure you understand the project, how the data will be used, your right to refuse to be recorded and your right to withdraw from the research at any time.
How do I get involved or learn more? We hope you will accept the invitation to participate in this research.
To participate, or speak to Esmaeil to clarify anything before you take part, please message him using the form below.