LONDON, August 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

A service that helps people aged over 50 find employment has created a hit squad of 400 senior business trouble-shooters to fill skills gaps experienced by small businesses.

Called the 'Skilled People Silver Bullets', the idea is to give small business owners easy access, at low cost, to highly experienced experts with a minimum of 25 years' experience and know-how across all areas of business.

The initiative responds to figures published by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group (APPSBG) which showed that almost a third of small businesses at start up have difficulty finding skilled staff.

Dr Dianne Bown-Wilson, small business advisor and founder of in my prime commented: "This is an innovative and practical initiative which will go some way to solving two of the greatest challenges in our economy today: under-resourced small businesses and under-utilised older people."

The knowledge on offer from the 'Skilled People Silver Bullets' ranges from IT, finance, sales and marketing to HR, production and admin. To make it economical for fledgling companies, every 'Silver Bullet' has agreed to accept a low day rate. Many will accept only expenses to 'give something back'.

Keith Simpson of Skilledpeople.com, the website behind the initiative, stresses, "The 'Silver Bullets' want to do real practical work. They are more than mentors. They don't want to only give an opinion and walk away."

He claims the quality of support is likely to be better than that from many big management consultancies because the 'Silver Bullets' have more real world experience. "Who would you respect more," asks Simpson, "a 27 year old consultant full of theories or a 54 year old who's been round the block a few times?"

"A young entrepreneur can get the best of both worlds with a 'Silver Bullet' who can draw on decades of knowledge to give great advice and will then practise what they've preached."

Businesses who want to know more can visit http://www.skilledpeople.com/silver_bullets.php or call a freephone number, 0800 331 7785, set up to give advice on finding a 'Silver Bullet'.

Notes:

1. Contact details of 'Silver Bullets' throughout the UK willing to be interviewed available on request.

2. Skilledpeople.com is a non-profit making small, private company run on social enterprise lines to connect small businesses needing work done with experienced people aged 50+ who can do it.

SOURCE Skilled People