UK firms should look to businesses who are successful in employing and managing age diverse workforces, the chief executive of The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) told HR managers Wednesday night.

At a seminar hosted by law firm Finer Stephens Innocent, Chris Ball suggested UK firms should look to companies such as automaker Audi, toolmaker Fahrion, sensor technology firm SICK and the UK’s own BT for innovative methods in managing such workforces.

“We think it’s absolutely possible to manage without a mandatory retirement age,” she told the audience.

Audi uses healthcare measures such as body and mind monitoring across its entire workforce to gauge employee fitness.

At SICK, the business’s commitment to lifelong learning for its employees is demonstrated by setting development goals for individuals during appraisals, regular job rotations and putting mixed-age groups together for training.

BT offers a variety of work-at-home and flexible working schemes which benefit an age-diverse, lifestyle diverse workforce.

The UK’s current default retirement age of 65 will end on 1 October.