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    Pre Retirement Courses

    Pre-retirement 1:1 sessions and group programmes

    Pre-Retirement Programmes

    Outplacement services encompass support for staff who are nearing retirement age and who may choose to use redundancy or redeployment as a catalyst to finish their formal working lives.

    Weighing up the pros and cons of exactly when the best time is to retire is a complicated process. The transition from employment to retirement is not always easy with plenty of implications and considerations, both financial and lifestyle related.

    Some employees may decide they want to move into self-employment, take the first step as an entrepreneur, explore new educational opportunities, or work on a voluntary basis. Our programmes explore all these options and are tailored to everyone’s situation and individual requirements. They can be offered as group workshops alongside 1:1 sessions, onsite or online or a mixture of the two. Employees also have access to a resource hub with free document templates, directories of information, helpful webinars and comprehensive signposting to specialist organisations.

    what do our clients say about us?

    Retirement Courses Reviews

    Having decided to retire after 43 years…

    Having decided to retire after 43 years my form kindly provided some retirement preparation sessions. Bill McKeown got in touch and I have to say provided outstanding thought provoking, sensible and challenging discussion points during a series of sessions to help ease me through. I liked his ‘real life’, wise and challenging dialogue, really very good indeed. I highly recommend Bill in this regard, he has definitely got me to think through what I want from the next (non-working) phase of my life. 10/10!

    After nearly 25 years with the same…

    After nearly 25 years with the same employer, I was approaching the open job market with a sense of trepidation! I needn’t have worried, as Matthew at Outplacement First was there to support and advise. Our meetings were practical and insightful – as well as friendly and humerous. All round, a very enjoyable experience – and I now have a new job!!

    My experience

    I must admit to being rather apprehensive in availing myself of the services of Outplacement First. It has been a while since I have applied for a job and thought that being near retirment the company wouldn’t understand where I was coming from!
    How wrong was I! Right from my first contact I have been very impressed with Bill and the team.

    First Class Service

    Outplacement First has provided a first class service to me. Bill has been instrumental in the change of career I have taken. His non-judgemental help, advice, permission giving and encouragement throughout what was intially a daunting prospect have all been invaluable. Part schoolmaster, part therapist, part friend. Well done and thank you.

    How Do Retirement Courses Work

    Pre-retirement sessions typically focus on three key aspects, financial provision and management, emotional health and well-being, and lifestyle changes. All our programmes include the following content:-

    Financial

    • Pensions – private and state provision
    • Financial planning
    • Making a will and estate planning
    • Access to approved financial advisers

    Emotional Wellbeing

    • Starting a new chapter
    • Understanding change and how to react to it
    • Positive focus
    • Personal identity and feeling valued
    • Fulfilling ambitions
    • Emotional and psychological wellbeing

    Lifestyle Changes

    • Evaluating opportunities
    • Assessing lifestyle factors
    • Creating an action plan
    • Managing changing family relationships
    • Learning how to change the work/life balance
    • Understanding how to manage time
    • Relocation
    • Entrepreneurial opportunities
    • Self-employment
    • Part-time work
    • Voluntary work
    • Further education

    Case Studies and Projects

    A major industrial firm faced with relocating a key element of its business overseas wanted to offer pre-retirement sessions as part of their outplacement services to around 500 staff who were being made redundant. A good proportion of these was within five years of possible retirement. A series of group workshops provided key information to some staff considering retirement whilst also highlighting and signposting other options like self-employment and starting a new business. Executive staff were also offered 1:1 sessions and we had three financial planning consultants available onsite. They gave group talks on pension provisions and were also available on a 1:1 basis for staff who wanted a more detailed conversation about their financial situation. Outcomes were successful across the board with 7% of staff opting for retirement and some choosing early retirement which was not something they had previously considered possible.

    We were invited to co-host outplacement provision with another provider in the industry but our involvement was strictly for pre-retirement planning due to our expertise in this area. A large geographical redeployment in a financial services company highlighted a number of staff members at a range of employment levels within the business who might be interested in opting for retirement. We provided 1:1 sessions online and group workshops on-site discussing the major themes around retirement. We also offered unlimited access to our resource hub where employees could explore other options such as re-training, self-employment, starting their own business, and voluntary work. All employees received support for as long as they required it with a 100% settlement rate across a range of different outcomes of which retirement was one.

    Questions-answers about outplacement for retirement

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • If I am not looking for another job and considering retirement, are retirement courses still provided as free outplacement by my employer?

      Outplacement provision caters to employees heading off in all sorts of different directions and it doesn’t have to mean future employment. Outplacement explores retirement options, self-employment, retraining, further education, and entrepreneurial opportunities. It’s up to the employer to choose the different elements which they think best suit their workforce and these are free at the point of use.

    • Does outplacement for retirement include any financial advice?

      Many good outplacement providers offer access to financial advisers who either work with them onsite via group workshops on topics of interest like pensions and wills or, you may be offered access to a consultant on a 1:1 basis. This doesn’t preclude you from consulting an adviser you already know or looking for an adviser outside of the outplacement service. However, you always make sure they are properly qualified and have experience in financial planning for retirement.

    • I’m not sure whether I want to retire yet, does Outplacement explore other options apart other than employment or retirement?

      Retirement is just one option offered for people in the 55-65 age bracket but it’s not the only one. Other than employment, staff might consider self-employment, working freelance, starting their own business, or going back into education. All these opportunities are discussed in our retirement courses as many people don’t want to retire or would like to opt for a blended approach.