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The Chancellor demonstrated clear intentions to win over voters with tax cuts to National Insurance and proof that his long-term growth and investment policies are bearing fruit. The Chancellor’s approach remains consistent from the Autumn Statement with continued monetary boosts to specific sectors, such as renewables and life sciences and construction projects including Barking and Canary Wharf. He suggests two-thirds of new jobs since 2019 are outside London, which is not necessarily borne out by APSCo’s sector research. 

Two recent APSCo and OutSource events brought skills to the fore. At a House of Commons executive dinner led by the skills expert Baroness Sue Garden of Frognall, a most gracious and humorous host, the leaders of our larger staffing businesses discussed how jobs and careers should be weaved throughout the school curriculum, bringing relevance to academic and technical modules.

APSCo UK and OutSource made their Spring Budget Submission this week to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. With so many fiscal challenges, such as the need to raise capital expenditure on deteriorating public sector infrastructure, then the Chancellor (and any future government) need policies that will positively impact growth without massive expenditure. 

Skills shortages, deficiencies of the apprenticeship levy scheme and challenges recruiting and retaining staff are all issues members have long reported to us, pre-dating covid and borne out by our research and our recent paper on people strategy.

In a significant move aimed at boosting economic growth and enhancing shared security, the United Kingdom has solidified a new strategic partnership with Singapore. The partnership, signed on 9 September 2023, represents a landmark agreement between the two countries and reflects a shared commitment to harnessing technology and innovation to create jobs and foster economic prosperity.

In a significant move aimed at boosting economic growth and enhancing shared security, the United Kingdom has solidified a new strategic partnership with Singapore. The partnership, signed on 9 September 2023, represents a landmark agreement between the two countries and reflects a shared commitment to harnessing technology and innovation to create jobs and foster economic prosperity.

Labour makes cast iron guarantee to put forward Employment Rights Bill within 100 days of forming a government. Understandable concern from the recruitment sector around proposals to ban zero-hour contracts and how it will affect professional contracting. A number of private members' bills expanding employment rights are highly likely to pass this autumn, in any event, including right for agency workers to ask for predictable hours.

As Parliament returned from summer recess, Labour Leader Keir Starmer announced changes to his Shadow Cabinet team on 4th September, in a highly anticipated reshuffle.

In response to the Government consultation, Tackling non-compliance in the umbrella company market, APSCo has warned that the proposals are flawed as they do not address the root cause of the issue – the need for licencing of the umbrella sector.

It’s encouraging to see both an increase in employment and a decrease in economic inactivity, suggesting that the UK economy is just managing to keep its head above water.

The latest labour market statistics are cause for concern for the UK’s labour market, according to APSCo.

Responding to the open consultation Tackling non-compliance in the umbrella company market published yesterday, Tania Bowers, Global Public Policy Director at APSCo comments: “While this is a significant consultation that will require a lot of input and insight from the staffing sector to ensure any regulatory change is fit for purpose, it is promising to see that HMRC is committed to driving long-term changes in umbrella regulation which we believe are necessary.