Government and campaigns
It might seem like Christmas was ages ago. Between digesting the good (having a Brexit deal), the bad (new lockdown), and the ugly (how do we navigate the massive, yet skinny deal), it's hard to believe we are just one month into 2021. Check out our Brexit hub for all you need to know.
The UK is now trading with 27 different member states and there's no longer a "one size fits all". Now is the time to think about your international strategy, and tomorrow's webinar with the Department for International Trade (DIT) is the perfect opportunity to ask questions. With over 160 offices in 108 countries overseas, the DIT has the necessary expertise to support you.
Following the Trade Agreement with the EU, BEIS has launched a series of new, on demand videos to help familiarise yourself with the new rules and the actions arising from them. Follow this link to access the video content.
In addition to this the REC have met with the TUC to discuss concerns on how the new immigration system could lead to increased exploitation of vulnerable agency workers; look out for more details soon.
Following the recent appointment of Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP as Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, our Chief Executive will be meeting with the Secretary of State in the near future to discuss our industry's concerns. This will be a great opportunity to take our messages direct to the heart of government.
As part of the REC’s response to the government’s consultation on the reform of non-compete clauses we have drafted a template letter for members to send to their local MP. This letter explains why the proposed reforms could be damaging to the industry and asks for MPs to put pressure on the government to scrap the proposals. The template can be found here. Please take a few minutes to sign and send off. The more MPs that know about this the better.
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) is consulting on the proposed changes to the way it inspects its licence holders. Members wanting to learn more or wishing to feed into the REC’s response should email policy@rec.uk.com.
Treasury have confirmed that employers cannot backdate furlough payments. This means that to make a claim for furlough, an employer must have had a furlough agreement in place with their employee/temporary worker prior to the first date being claimed for. The REC is aware that this will be a concern for members, particularly in the education sector. We will be raising these issues with Treasury and other relevant government departments to ensure that temporary workers are not unfairly penalised by these rules.
The REC and Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) are carrying out the recruitment industry's first ever diversity audit. This will provide us with a comprehensive view of the industry in terms of diversity, equality, and inclusion, allowing the REC to create diversity strategies that deliver real benefits to those working in our industry. To help foster greater diversity in the industry, please complete this survey to share your experiences.
Supporting members in the sector they operate in is a key part of the work of the campaigns team. Join our next Health & Social Care meeting on 9 February and our Blue Collar webinar on 18 February to keep up to date with all that's happening.
As part of our Partnership Agreement with the Careers and Enterprise Company, we are helping to support young people get into work. Recruiters can volunteer as an Enterprise Adviser (EA) and partner with a secondary school or college to support them in the development and implementation of their careers strategy. This should help ensure all students are prepared and inspired for the fast-changing world of work. Supporting young people is now more important than ever; be part of this positive change and help shape young people’s futures. Click here to find out more.
Our latest Jobs Recovery Tracker shows that there is a clear industry and regional divide in job advert recovery:
With case numbers rising and more health restrictions being put in place to stop the virus, it is no surprise to see significantly higher numbers of job postings for health professionals like nurses (+62.7%), care workers (+25.8%) and radiographers (+71.3%) in December 2020 than a year earlier.
Share this article