Attracting overseas expertise

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.