Harrogate entrepreneur challenges idea that 'careers should begin winding down in our 50s and 60s'

A Harrogate businesswoman is calling on employers to rethink their approach to people aged over 50.

Writer, broadcaster and entrepreneur Victoria Tomlinson argues that longer lives and AI are making experience more valuable, not less.

“We have added years to our lives without really changing the way we think about careers,” she said.

“People reach 50 and can suddenly find doors closing just when they have accumulated decades of skills, judgement and experience.”

Being based in Harrogate herself, Victoria is particularly passionate about championing Yorkshire businesses and highlighting the wealth of skills, experience and talent that people over 50 can continue to bring to the region.

A former EY London director, she ran her own agency, Northern Lights PR, for 30 years, before founding Next-Up, helping senior professionals build active careers after full-time work, in her 60s, and subsequently launching a technology platform at 67.

All that experience and knowledge has found a new outlet as Victoria has turned author.

Published by Pearson, her debut book Expiry Date Never: Age is the New Superpower calls for a rethink of how businesses value and use the skills and experience of the over-50s.

The book challenges the idea that careers should begin winding down in our 50s and 60s when many people could have another 20, 30 or more productive years ahead.

It combines research and practical advice with stories of individuals and employers finding new ways to use experience.

“Yorkshire has been a fantastic place to build businesses and test some of these ideas, such as mentoring tech entrepreneurs which are in the book,” said Victoria.

“I would love Expiry Date Never to help start a much bigger conversation about how employers use talent at every age and, just as importantly, help people realise how much they still have to offer.”

The Yorkshire connections run throughout the book.

Harrogate GP and Concilio Health CEO Dr Sarah Hattam has written a chapter examining the medical evidence around purpose, health and longevity.

Meanwhile, Leeds law firm Addleshaw Goddard was also one of the first law firms to run Next-Up's Your Future workshops, helping partners plan for the years beyond full-time partnership with ideas, skills and new connections.

Tomlinson says this helps address the hardest part of this stage, which is what do I do?

Expiry Date Never was launched at a champagne tea hosted by Addleshaw Goddard in Leeds to close Leeds Digital Festival.

She has also spoken about the ideas behind the book at the FT Weekend Festival in London

Tomlinson will be speaking at Raworth Harrogate Literature Festival on Sunday, October 25.

Book tickets here