Employers risk losing key skills from the workforce if they fail to provide tailored retirement support to staff, Aviva has warned.

The insurer has published the results of a survey which shows that 64 per cent of companies do not offer any guidance to workers in the run-up to retirement.

By failing to provide adequate support, firms run the risk of losing the experience and skills of the third of workers aged 65 and over who are looking to remain in the workforce.

The Real Retirement report also shows that workshops and written literature on retirement finances are rated as the most useful types of support by older workers, while 27 per cent would like to discuss their plans for later life with a member of staff.

Clive Bolton, at retirement director at Aviva, claimed that, despite many companies investing heavily in pension provision and other benefits, they are letting staff members "drift away" by failing to provide adequate advice on retirement.

He said: "The end of the default retirement age and growing financial pressures have seen a growing trend towards 'part-tirement', whereby older people look to cut back on their working hours but are not yet ready to stop working altogether.

"Employers who do not offer tailored retirement support to explain the options available, such as 'part-tirement', could find they are giving up on valuable employees with years of experience and knowledge."