A BRAMLEY IT entrepreneur is setting up a business to help the over 50s use their skills to benefit companies.

Matthew Twist has set up web-based SeniorSquirrels.com to connect people over the age of 50 with SMEs, organisations and individuals, who need help to find skilled jobs.

The idea stems from his mother Anna Twist, who retired from being an accountant around five years ago.

Matthew said: “I was talking to her and she said ‘I’d love to be able to work again.’ “She doesn’t want to work full-time, but do something to use her skills and keep her brain going.

“I’ve worked in the internet industry and thought why isn’t there something that can help my mother meet a small business, that doesn’t want to pay £2,000 for an accountant, when my mum could do it for say £50 an hour, three times a week?”

It occurred to Matthew that we live in an ageing society with people who have skills that are not being used.

“There is a vast population of retired and semi retired people who are an untapped resource of knowledge and experience. They’re not being utilised by our economy,” said Matthew.

“These people are not only accountants, they are people like engineers, lawyers, mechanics and gardeners, who could be hired without the traditional overheads of employment.”

Matthew is in talks with investors and hopes to fully launch the business by the autumn.

He recently held a soft launch of the business to sign up what he calls Super Squirrels, who will be the first to find jobs via the website.

Describing the business as the “world’s first micro platform for the senior generation,” he is very optimistic for SeniorSquirrels.com, which attracted a lot of social media attention during the launch.

“We soft launched on Twitter to basically get traction, by tweeting people saying what we are doing and asking them to re-tweet us.”

Among them was radio and television presenter Shelagh Fogarty.

“She’s got 100,000 followers and she re-tweeted us straight away,” said a delighted Matthew.

Matthew said some national newspapers picked up the tweets and re-tweeted, including Forbes Magazine in the United States.

“You hear people say things go viral, but I watched it happen.

“After that we have had 57 people who signed up in our first week.”

To register as a Senior Squirrel or a business that could do with some skilled help, visit seniorsquirrels.com.