A construction re-cruitment specialist has been praised by the Government for its approach to tackling workplace age discrimination.

Bromak, based in Knowsley Street, Bolton, has been awarded Employer Champion status by the Age Positive campaign, a Department for work and Pensions (DWP) initiative, spearheaded by Malcolm Wicks, the Minister for Pensions.

The Age Positive campaign works with employers across the UK to promote the business benefits of age diversity in the workplace ahead of new EU legislation, which will make age discrimination in the workplace illegal from 2006.

Martyn Makinson, Director at Bromak, said: "We are delighted to receive this endorsement from the Age Positive Campaign supporting our commitment to workplace age diversity both internally and externally. Construction firms in the North-west are increasingly finding it hard to find the skills they need, which is why we believe that it's crucial to consider candidates of all ages."

Bromak, which supplies construction industry staff, reviewed its employment policies ahead of the legislation to ensure that the company does not discriminate against staff because of their age.

Mr Wicks said: "It is debilitating for people to be told they can't have a job because of their age.

"There are too many people in their 50s who are finding it very difficult to get work.

"These are people with experience, skills and energy, but simply because of their birth date they are not even given interviews."