The European Union requires member states to combat discrimination in employment by 2006 and to develop active ageing strategies to support age diversity in the workplace. These issues and the ageing workforce across Europe are creating challenges for policy makers. Many European countries are experiencing significant and growing skill shortages (EC, 2001 'The Social Situation in Europe'). Such shortages, alongside an increasing proportion of older people in the population(EC, 2001 Employment in Europe), and associated concerns relating to the loss of skills to the workplace as a result of retirement, have emphasised the potential benefit of employing older people. Increased life expectancy, shorter working lives and proportionally greater numbers of older people are also putting pressure on social security systems. Therefore many governments have sought to reverse the trend towards early retirement by encouraging the employment of older people. However there is still considerable discrimination against older people seeking employment. These issues are the focus of an EU funded project under the LEONARDO programme, '50+ Europe - Strategies to overcome barriers to employment of the over 50s' led by the Department of Educational Studies at the University of Surrey.This paper considers the processes and partnerships used in identifying the policy and strategies across Europe in the employment of the over 50s. It will describe current employment practice in five countries (France, Norway, Poland, Spain and UK). It will also report on the first stage of the project describing the experiences of older people in jobseeking, and current activities across Europe in supporting and promoting older workers. The paper will assess current practice across Europe in the employment and retention of the over 50s, and will suggest an innovative approach to providing vocational guidance which utilises and builds on best practice. The outcomes from this project will include- an online vocational guidance tool to support the over 50s in jobseeking and presenting their skills to meet the needs of employers; - online training for employers and human resource personnel in developing strategies for recruiting and retaining older workers; - a policy report including recommendations on age diversity in the workplace.A web site has also been developed to draw on and link with current expertise and good practice throughout Europe and will be available in the five languages of the project partners.As the project will be nearing the end of its first year at the time of the conference we would welcome comments and suggestions from the conference audience on our progress so far.