Pro-business and pro-worker – REC at the Liberal Democrats Party Conference
9 October 2014
After three long weeks of networking and lobbying over beige buffets, the main party conference season drew to a close this week.
Thu, 9 Oct 2014 | By Kate Shoesmith, head of policy, REC
After three long weeks of networking and lobbying over beige buffets, the main party conference season drew to a close this week.
As at the other conferences, there were a number of announcements relevant to recruiters at the Liberal Democrat conference this week:
Employment Status under review. Business secretary Vince Cable announced there would be a government review of employment status. Employment relations minister Jo Swinson explained this has been driven mainly by the findings of the zero-hours contracts review. It’s their opinion that individuals and employers can be unclear on the various rights and responsibilities that go with being an employee, a worker or self-employed.
Swinson herself has championed the cause of flexible working so it’s imperative that the government avoids any knee-jerk reaction that prevents businesses from taking on flexible staff or stops individuals working in a way that suits their lifestyle. The minister confirmed the review is a ‘fact-finding’ exercise and there will be opportunities for recruiters to feed in.
Workers’ rights agency. Cable also said they will look to establish a new Workers’ Rights agency. It would bring together the Gangmaster Licensing Authority, the Employment Agencies Standard Inspectorate, National Minimum Wage (NMW) enforcement and the Health and Safety Executive. If this creates efficiencies and better cross-departmental working, it could be a useful step forward.
Apprenticeships and progression in the jobs market. As with Labour and Conservatives, the Lib Dems were adamant that our careers service needs fixing. At a Work Foundation and Impetus Private Equity Foundation event with Stephen Lloyd MP and Baroness Garden, I discussed why business, educators and politicians all have a role to play in getting young people into work. As part of the drive to improve the status of apprenticeships, Cable pledged to increase the apprenticeship NMW from £2.73 to £3.76.
Another common refrain at the conferences has been ‘Britain needs a pay rise’. John Cridland, director general of the CBI, said wages do need to go up and the best way to do this is through policies that enable business growth.
Public sector reform. The Lib Dems flagship announcement was a commitment to bring health and social care budgets together by 2018, with a new focus on mental health support. There were countless examples from delegates about how preventative and good quality social care, can lessen the long-term burden on the health service. Nick Clegg also used his leader’s speech to pay homage to the work of teachers.
At a Q&A session with David Laws, the education minister said one of his five priorities is the recruitment of teachers. He wants to see the creation of a new Royal College of Teachers to professionalise the industry and encourage new entrants.
Building a regional voice and investment programme. The Lib Dem conference in Glasgow may have been a very different affair if the Scottish independence vote had gone the other way. Coming so soon after the referendum, there was still plenty of talk about devolution. Clegg said he wants to see greater powers for towns and cities. He also wants to see the UK build more garden cities. If this does become part of the next government’s strategy it would mean more infrastructure projects, more local investment and, ultimately, more jobs.
The SNP and Plaid Cymru will be meeting over the coming weeks and we will be noting any interesting developments there – particularly in relation to this highly politicised devolution debate.
So that’s it – conference season is over for another year. Being there has allowed us to get a head-start on the priorities for each of the political parties in the run up to next year’s general election. We understand better where they want more information and advice from us as experts in the jobs market and over the next few months we will use these insights to develop our own manifesto – so watch this space!
As at the other conferences, there were a number of announcements relevant to recruiters at the Liberal Democrat conference this week:
Employment Status under review. Business secretary Vince Cable announced there would be a government review of employment status. Employment relations minister Jo Swinson explained this has been driven mainly by the findings of the zero-hours contracts review. It’s their opinion that individuals and employers can be unclear on the various rights and responsibilities that go with being an employee, a worker or self-employed.
Swinson herself has championed the cause of flexible working so it’s imperative that the government avoids any knee-jerk reaction that prevents businesses from taking on flexible staff or stops individuals working in a way that suits their lifestyle. The minister confirmed the review is a ‘fact-finding’ exercise and there will be opportunities for recruiters to feed in.
Workers’ rights agency. Cable also said they will look to establish a new Workers’ Rights agency. It would bring together the Gangmaster Licensing Authority, the Employment Agencies Standard Inspectorate, National Minimum Wage (NMW) enforcement and the Health and Safety Executive. If this creates efficiencies and better cross-departmental working, it could be a useful step forward.
Apprenticeships and progression in the jobs market. As with Labour and Conservatives, the Lib Dems were adamant that our careers service needs fixing. At a Work Foundation and Impetus Private Equity Foundation event with Stephen Lloyd MP and Baroness Garden, I discussed why business, educators and politicians all have a role to play in getting young people into work. As part of the drive to improve the status of apprenticeships, Cable pledged to increase the apprenticeship NMW from £2.73 to £3.76.
Another common refrain at the conferences has been ‘Britain needs a pay rise’. John Cridland, director general of the CBI, said wages do need to go up and the best way to do this is through policies that enable business growth.
Public sector reform. The Lib Dems flagship announcement was a commitment to bring health and social care budgets together by 2018, with a new focus on mental health support. There were countless examples from delegates about how preventative and good quality social care, can lessen the long-term burden on the health service. Nick Clegg also used his leader’s speech to pay homage to the work of teachers.
At a Q&A session with David Laws, the education minister said one of his five priorities is the recruitment of teachers. He wants to see the creation of a new Royal College of Teachers to professionalise the industry and encourage new entrants.
Building a regional voice and investment programme. The Lib Dem conference in Glasgow may have been a very different affair if the Scottish independence vote had gone the other way. Coming so soon after the referendum, there was still plenty of talk about devolution. Clegg said he wants to see greater powers for towns and cities. He also wants to see the UK build more garden cities. If this does become part of the next government’s strategy it would mean more infrastructure projects, more local investment and, ultimately, more jobs.
The SNP and Plaid Cymru will be meeting over the coming weeks and we will be noting any interesting developments there – particularly in relation to this highly politicised devolution debate.
So that’s it – conference season is over for another year. Being there has allowed us to get a head-start on the priorities for each of the political parties in the run up to next year’s general election. We understand better where they want more information and advice from us as experts in the jobs market and over the next few months we will use these insights to develop our own manifesto – so watch this space!
