Government and campaigns
On Wednesday, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled his “Autumn Statement for growth.” A jam-packed statement, full of pro-business announcements on things like extending the Restart scheme – a key REC ask, making full capital expensing permanent, freezing the small business rates multiplier, cutting employee National Insurance and supporting the self-employed. And breathe. This was most definitely a pre-Election statement. However, there were a few disappointments – skills didn’t get much attention at all and committing to more apprenticeships in “growth sectors” without reforming the failing Apprenticeship Levy was a missed opportunity. Similarly, the Chancellor talked about boosting growth and productivity but without setting out any plans on proper, long-term workforce planning. Team REC is meeting with Treasury officials shortly, which will provide an opportunity to share our feedback, suggestions, and discuss how we can best work together to achieve the growth we all want to see. For a summary of the key takeaways, have a look at our autumn statement blog.
New consultations have opened on the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 and Regulation 7 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2005. Acas is consulting on the statutory code of practice that will set out how to handle a request made under the Predictable Working Act – this consultation is open until 17 January 2024. Additionally, the government is consulting on Regulation 7, following their attempt to repeal it earlier this year. This consultation is open until 16 January 2024. REC will be responding to both, and we’d be keen to hear your views. To feed into our responses, please email Patrick.milnes@rec.uk.com.
Labour recently published its National Policy Forum (NPF) response, which the REC fed into earlier this year. As trailed in the media, there are important commitments, including reforming the Apprenticeship Levy and introducing a Single Enforcement Body (SEB) – key REC asks. While not every policy from the NPF response will make it into a Labour manifesto, it does provide a good indicator of Labour’s overall position and provides a good canvass for the REC’s ongoing engagement with both main parties ahead of a General Election. For more information and to understand how this might impact the recruitment industry, have a look at our summary.
Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson recently launched an independent review headed by Sir David Bell, focusing on early years education in the childcare sector. As a result of REC engagement with Bridget’s team, they’ve seen the value of REC member insights and are keen for us to feed into that review process. They're particularly interested in hearing members' views on how to create a sustainable, long-term plan to empower the early years workforce. We need to feed into the review before Christmas, and we need to hear from you! If you’re working in the childcare sector and have information to share, please get in touch with Natasha on natasha.mpofu@rec.uk.com.
The REC was prominent in the media about the Autumn Statement, providing expert opinion on the impact of rumours and actual measures on the jobs market. We enjoy a good working relationship with the Treasury and provided a statement in its official Back to Work Plan press release, published on the eve of the Autumn Statement, specifically supporting the extension of the Restart scheme. BBC News were among the many media outlets that reported on our press release in response to the Autumn Statement on Wednesday, noting our Chief Executive Neil Carberry view that making full expensing permanent was good news, but only for businesses in the sectors that can really benefit from it.
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