Latest news from policy and research

It’s been a week of tense negotiations, with Downing Street failing to reach a consensus with both local Manchester authorities and Brussels. Despite the drama, we’ve continued to campaign on the issues that matter most to recruiters.

Brexit campaign steps up

We are only about 50 working days from the end of the transition period and challenges are on the horizon. COVID and Brexit are both looming large in the minds of business leaders - now is the time to prepare for what comes next. Together with the CBI and other 70 trade associations, we signed a statement calling for politicians on both sides to agree a trade deal which includes the services we urgently need, and provides clarity on questions like invoicing, taxation, contracts and data.

Today’s Talking Recruitment webinar focused on Brexit, trade and immigration. Fragomen talked about the upcoming Points Based System and we went through the steps you need to take to prepare for the end of the transition period. You can find resources to help you at https://www.gov.uk/transition.

Right to work checks

With right to work checks becoming increasingly onerous, the REC has stepped up efforts to protect the recruitment industry from the administrative burden. We are meeting with the Home Office to raise the specific issues our industry is facing on right to work checks. Recruiters will play an important role in the recovery , and the REC wants to ensure that your businesses can operate as efficiently as possible to help get people back to work.

Comprehensive spending review

The Treasury has confirmed a spending review will take place at the end of November, to set out government department's resource and capital budgets for the next 12 months. The Government said this decision has been made due to the pandemic, and to protect jobs. The REC submitted evidence to the Treasury calling on government to prioritise the jobs market, investment in skills and tackle the unemployment crisis by working with the recruitment industry.

Help us stand up for you 

The REC are working hard to shift the image of our sector, and tell the story of the good you bring to people and firms across the UK. To achieve this, we have started work on a ground-breaking study of the economic and social impact our sector makes. Help us to demonstrate how important you are to clients, jobseekers, government and to the media, and guide us on how best to support your recovery through the coming months and 2021.

We cannot do this without your input – keep an eye out for our email with your unique link to complete the survey.

In other news

• We recently caught up with BEIS/EAS officials, covering a range of topics from the implementation of the Good Work Plan (particularly Key Information Documents) through to right to work checks and future legislation such as the Employment Bill.
• We took part in a roundtable hosted by senior Treasury officials, to provide expertise relating to intermediaries, fee payers and IR35 reforms coming into effect April 2021. Some stakeholders had raised concerned over a clause in the Finance Act which would make agencies fee payers. During the meeting HMRC acknowledge that the text could be interpreted to mean that agencies become the fee-payer (even where there is an umbrella in the chain), however this is not the intention. They intend to amend the primary legislation but cannot give a deadline nor tell us how they might amend it.
• We attended a roundtable with Employment Minister Rt Hon. Mims Davies MP to discuss possible interventions to support more over 50’s into work. The REC made the case for government support to allow recruiters to act as work coaches and deliver career transition support to older workers.

Research Corner

Our latest Jobs Recovery Tracker revealed that job adverts fell (week of 5-11 October) for the first time since July. Key headlines from the Tracker:

• 1.28 million job adverts in the UK last week – down by 1.0% from the previous week
• 128,000 new job adverts posted – 7.6% fewer than the previous week
• Hospitality sector hit hard, with notable drop in adverts for bar staff, waiters and chefs
• Biggest fall in postings in the East Midlands, particularly in parts of Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire

Make sure you keep up-to-date with jobs market trends – our newly launched Research Bitesize is exclusively available to REC members to help you understand changing market conditions and plan ahead.

Dates for your diary

• The next Professional Services sector webinar on Wednesday 28 October at 1pm, will be exploring the future of flexible working. Joining the webinar will be Flexible working specialist and TimeWise Director Claire Campbell. The meeting will explore the future of flexible working post COVID, and how recruiters can work with their clients to design flexible working roles. Claire will also be sharing insights on how recruiters can support their own staff through COVID19. You can sign up to the webinar here.
• We are developing a new D&I strategy to give members the support and information they need to be drivers of change. More information on the strategy will be revealed at the REC's upcoming Inclusive Recruitment Forum on 10 November. Sign up to the forum here.
• The next Education Sector webinar will be taking place on 11 November 2020 at 1pm. The webinar will explore the key issues and challenges within the sector. A detail agenda will be circulated nearer the time; however members can sign up here to attend.