Current News

REC/IRP - The Week Ahead

A good week for industry voice and recognition, with the REC invited to give evidence to the Work & Pensions Select Committee on youth unemployment. This was an opportunity to showcase the positive contribution of recruiters to the UK labour market and to ensure that we remain at the forefront of this debate (http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/2150).

Last week also included interesting discussions with the Greater London Assembly (GLA) on a possible good practice initiative in the hospitality sector which would tie in with the REC’s ongoing compliance and client agenda. Elsewhere, the latest round of sector group meetings took place with gatherings of REC Childcare and REC Education as well as the monthly catch up of the Interim Management Association (IMA). 

This week sees a flurry of external meetings as well as a high-profile roundtable meeting of the REC’s Marketing, Media & Creative Industries (MMC) sector group. The event will launch a new phase in the work of the MMC Group and will involve employers and organisations such as Institute of Marketing and Institute of Public Affairs.

The latest REC/KPMG Report on Jobs was published this morning and received widespread media coverage, including Chief Executive Kevin Green being interviewed on the BBC’s ‘Wake up to Money’ programme. This month’s report shows a drop in number of placements, although there continues to be strong demand for workers in many sectors and vacancies continue to rise. Our press release can be accessed at the following link: http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/2151

 In summary, key REC meetings, events and external developments over the coming week are as follows:

Monday July 9

• Latest REC/KPMG Report on Jobs is published (http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/2151)
• Speeches by business secretary Vince Cable and business minister Mark Prisk at the opening of the Farnborough air show
• Department for Work and Pensions publishes initial analysis of participants attached to the Work Programme

Tuesday July 10

• Welfare to Work: 2012 UK Convention in Birmingham (Day 1) – REC will be attending and providing feedback to members  http://www.cesi.org.uk/convention
• REC attending European Commission's ‘We Mean Business’ event at the Department for Business Innovations and Skills (BIS) – Focus on youth employment and traineeships
• The OECD publishes unemployment rates

Wednesday July 11

• Welfare to Work – 2012 UK Convention in Birmingham (Day 2)
• Speech by Employment Minister Chris Grayling at Welfare to Work Convention (see above)
• Further education minister John Hayes speaks at launch of a Social Market Foundation report the adult skills market and what can be done to tackle the UK skills deficit
• Policy Network hosts a debate on European banking regulation – REC Financial Services Sector Group will continue to monitor implications for future staffing needs
• The Home Office and the UK Border Agency publish their annual reports

Thursday July 12

• REC Education – Meeting with the DfE’s Teaching Agency on role of supply teaching agencies in helping ex-teachers return to the profession and in delivering knowledge-enhancement courses
• REC Marketing, Media & Creative Industries (MMC) Sector Group - Roundtable meeting with employers and representative organisations on outlook for jobs in the sector http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/2149
• REC policy team meeting with CBI to discuss AWR latest implementation trends and other campaigns
• Home secretary Theresa May makes a speech on equality and diversity at Carlton House Terrace
• The Institute for Government and King's Fund launch a study on the passage of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 – REC to monitor any key messages for healthcare recruiters
• The Criminal Records Bureau and Independent Safeguarding Authority publish their annual reports
• Ofsted publishes a survey report on skills programmes for unemployed adults

Friday July 13

• REC meeting with Institute of Directors (IOD) on response to taxation proposals for high end interims (‘controlling persons consultation’)
• Care services minster Paul Burstow is at a Demos event on ageing societies
• The Office for National Statistics publishes its construction industry figures.