In your corner: REC Campaigns and Policy news - 18 November 2021

The nights might be drawing in and our minds drifting slowly towards Christmas, but the REC campaigns team shows no sign of slowing down. For the second time in a month, we were invited to give evidence on labour shortages at a select committee, we hosted Small Business Minister, Paul Scully MP, at our recent Recruitment Leaders Group call, we’ve achieved more ‘wins’ as part of our labour shortages campaign, and we’ve been busy responding to a number of consultations on your behalf. You can read more about what we’ve been up to below.

REC gives evidence: Welsh Affairs Committee
The REC was invited to give evidence at the Welsh Affairs Select Committee on 17 November where Deputy CEO, Kate Shoesmith appeared alongside two other panellists from the hospitality and tourism sectors to discuss the challenges facing the labour market in Wales. Kate spoke about the recent findings from our monthly research reports, which have consistently shown job vacancies increasing while candidate availability has decreased. Kate told the Committee that the current labour shortage crisis isn’t a new issue, but suggested short and long-term solutions, including offering an entry level skill visa in shortage sectors, a joint approach between the government and business, and an overarching skills revolution.  

Post-implementation review: 2016 amendments to the Conduct Regulations
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) previously conducted a survey on the 2016 amendments to the Conduct Regulations. As a result, they are now seeking more information on the impacts of the Conduct Regulations. Specifically, they would like to better understand the changes made in 2016 in the context of certain elements of the 2003 regulations (as amended). The specific parts of the Conduct Regulations on which they are seeking views are set out in this short survey.

The survey must be completed by 5pm on Friday 19 November.  The REC is currently drafting its response, if you’d like to feed into this, please get in touch with bunmi.adefuye@rec.uk.com.

Government announces review of Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
In response to the REC’s extensive campaign on labour shortages, a review of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) and further improvements to roadside facilities for HGV drivers were announced on 9 November. The review will aim to reduce the barriers in involved in the CPC process while keeping standards high. Government is also working with stakeholders to identify a number of lorry parks across the country where facilities such as temporary toilets, showers, and catering can be delivered in the coming months. This is a clear win for the REC which along with other trade bodies had called for a review of the CPC and improved roadside facilities as part of our labour shortages campaign. We look forward to working with government to ensure the changes are effective. As soon as we get more information about the review, we will let members know.   

The REC writes to Northern Ireland Health Minister and BSO Operations Director
The REC has written to Northern Ireland’s Health Minister and the Business Services Organisation (BSO) to raise concerns about the fourth extension to the agency workforce framework in Northern Ireland. There are two main concerns regarding this extension; firstly, there is limited opportunity to discuss the price caps, and secondly agencies that are currently not on framework have been unable to access it. The REC used the opportunity to urge the Department of Health and BSO to offer better market engagement and supplier communications. You can read our letter here.

COP26 roundup
The UN climate conference ended on 12 November. In one of the standout speeches Sir David Attenborough urged: “We must use this opportunity to create a more equal world and our motivation should not be fear but hope.” The challenge is how to make the economy serve society and serve nature, as the two are inextricably linked. What do green jobs and decent ESG policies mean for us as a sector? To meet the UK government’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050 employers will need to adjust their business models, particularly as more employees choose to work for companies with strong environmental policies.

At the most recent REC Talking Recruitment webinar, we polled participants asking if they had an ESG strategy. The majority (58%) said they didn’t have one yet, but were developing one, with just 17% saying they didn’t have plans to develop one at this stage. Over the coming months, we will be reaching out to members to share best practice and to help support us all in the transition to greener policies. Watch this space…

BEIS Flexible Working Consultation: final call for views
The BEIS consultation on making flexible working a day one right is open until Wednesday 1 December. This would increase the burden on employers to consider and respond to flexible working requests from their employees from day one. You can read more about the proposals and submit a response directly to BEIS here.  The REC is in the process of drafting its response, to feed into this, please send your thoughts to Patrick.milnes@rec.uk.com

IR35 consultation response
The Finance Bill Sub-Committee recently launched a call for evidence on the implementation of the off-payroll rules in the private sector, and how these are working in practice. The REC submitted its response on 15 November, you can read it in full here.

In the media
Last week we published our latest update to the Jobs Recovery Tracker, which was covered by outlets including BBC News and Mail Online. Neil Carberry was interviewed about the research on Radio 4’s Today programme, which you can listen to here, starting around 15 minutes in. The REC’s Chief Executive was also featured in last week’s Sunday Times, as part of a feature looking in depth into the divides in the labour market.

Following an Observer report into agencies in the care sector raising their rates amid staff shortages, the REC has written to the newspaper’s letters page highlighting the issues in the sector. Staffing Industry Analysts also printed part of that response online this week.

Research Corner
According to the REC’s latest Jobs Recovery Tracker, there were around 221,000 new job postings in the UK in the first week of November.  Growth in job adverts shows no signs of slowing down in the build up to Christmas, despite concerns about increases in the cost of living and the persistent presence of COVID-19. The total number of active job postings reached 2.68 million last week, another new record high for the tracker.

The REC is also publishing JobsOutlook next week, so keep an eye out for our latest insight into UK employers’ sentiment towards the economy and their hiring intentions.