Campaigns Roundup

This week, after a relatively short leadership contest, the Scottish National Party (SNP) announced their new leader would be Humza Yousaf, replacing the outgoing Nicola Sturgeon. It’s a moment of history as he becomes the first Muslim to lead a major UK party. The REC is looking forward to engaging with Scotland's First Minister in his new role, to make sure Scotland remains a great place for workers and businesses alike.

But whilst it’s all change in Scotland, it’s more of the same for the REC – the campaigns team have been as busy as ever as we move forward into Spring. We’ve been out and about representing the recruitment industry, with some of us even crossing the English Channel this week to attend the World Employment Confederation’s annual conference in Belgium.

REC discuss employment rights with Labour's Deputy Leader's team

Last week, we met Angela Rayner's  Chief of Staff  and Political and Policy Manager, to discuss the REC's view on Labour's Employment Rights Green Paper. This gave us the opportunity to feed directly into Labour's employment right's policy as they look to build their manifesto ahead of a touted general election next year. During the conversation we were able to provide clarity for Labour around the temporary labour market, and the vital role temporary work plays in the UK economy. We will continue to feed into Labour's discussion around this, and other pressing employment rights issues.

REC meeting with Director of Labour Market Enforcement

Following the publication of the delayed 2022/23 Labour Market Enforcement Strategy, the REC met with Margaret Beels, the Director of Labour Market Enforcement (DLME) to discuss future strategy plans. Moving forward the DLME is keen to work with the REC to improve compliance and enforcement in the UK labour market, this includes supporting REC-backed proposals such as the creation of a Single Enforcement Body and introducing regulation for Umbrella companies. The DLME also mentioned her plans to form a new oversight for compliance and enforcement board which we will push to be involved with.

REC attends World Employment Conference in Brussels

This week, the REC has been taking part in the World Employment Confederation's (WEC) annual conference in Brussels. It was good to discuss some of the challenges facing the industry across Europe and beyond, particularly in relation to regulation, but also provided an opportunity to share best practice and look ahead to new opportunities. As technology and digitalisation become more commonplace, more clients and candidates will look to labour market experts - recruiters - for support and thought leadership on things like AI and the digital skills needed to make a success of technology.

REC's Restart team wins at WEC Awards

The REC won the Leadership in Social Innovation category at the WEC awards on Tuesday. Since 2021, REC has arranged for some of its recruiters in England to work with employability services provider Maximus to help place 255 long-termed unemployed people into either temporary or permanent employment in 2022, a project funded through the government’s Restart Scheme. The scheme provides Universal Credit claimants who have been out of work for at least 9 months with enhanced employment support to help them into work. Maximus offers training and development, while REC members provide the matching service between candidates and clients.

VAT for nursing agencies' concessions

The REC would like to remind its members operating in health and care services of the rules and guidance on where VAT exemptions can and can't be applied. Our legal guide covers the rules around how this applies in the sector. All REC members are required to comply with HMRC's guidance on the application of the VAT concession. Not complying with this guidance is unlawful and would be a breach of the principles of the REC Code of Professional Practice.

Case studies on the use of IDVT and NHS employment check standards

The REC understands the challenges that healthcare members face in order to comply with the standards for NHS identity checking. We have been in close contact with NHS Employers who are working with a range of stakeholders to explore a fully digital option for onboarding across the NHS. We are keen to receive case studies from agencies around successfully using IDVT while adhering to NHS employment check standards. This will help the REC and NHS Employers make our case to other stakeholders. If you’d like to share your story, please contact Yerin.seo@rec.uk.com

Department for Transport (DfT) meeting on HGV drivers and logistics

The REC recently met with officials from DfT about their work in the HGV and logistics sectors. This was an opportunity for the REC to feedback some of the concerns our members currently have in this sector, and to share latest labour market intelligence and discuss what our members are doing to help tackle labour shortages in the sector. As a result, we've been invited to a cross-industry working group to tackle skills and labour related shortages - and we will keep our members fully informed of developments. For further information, please email usman.ali@rec.uk.com

Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) opportunities in Northeast England 

The LSIP covering parts of the Northeast, including South Tyneside, County Durham, Gateshead and Sunderland is very keen to liaise and speak to REC members. This is an opportunity for your business to be involved in localised workforce and skills planning, and raise your profile about all the great work that you do. If you operate in any of the following sectors, the LSIP is keen to hear your expertise:

• Construction
• Health & Social Care
• Life Sciences
• Digital
• Transport and Logistics
• Advanced Manufacturing

If you have any questions about this, please get in touch by emailing Usman at usman.ali@rec.uk.com

Research Corner

Our latest JobsOutlook shows that in December 2022-February 2023, business confidence in the UK economy continued its increase, rising by 13% to net: -51 from net: -64 in the previous rolling quarter. Employers in February (net: -31) were significantly more optimistic than in January (net: -57) and December (net: -65).  

Employers’ confidence in making hiring and investment decisions saw an even more substantial growth, increasing by 16% compared to the previous rolling quarter to net: -12 from net: -28. Similarly, this is the second consecutive increase in sentiment since December 2021-February 2022.