STEPHEN Constable boasts impressive qualifications and experience. Yet hundreds of bosses have rejected him as a potential employee. The reason? Because he is 48, he says.

It is ludicrous that someone like Mr Constable is thrown on the scrap heap at such an early age. No doubt some of the employers who discarded his CV ritually complain about the lack of suitably qualified school leavers.

It will take Mr Constable 17 years to reach statutory retirement age. An enlightened employer could get the benefit of his skills and experience for a long time to come. The question is: does such an employer exist?

Updated: 10:36 Monday, January 15, 2001