Team REC was on the ground in Brighton for the Labour Party’s annual gathering. As well as seeing this week’s political rollercoaster first-hand, the conference was an opportunity to take forward priority issues for the recruitment industry with policy makers, MPs, think tanks and other stakeholders.

On the political front, the Supreme Court’s announcement was fortunately timed for the Labour Party. A downbeat mood in Brighton – caused by Labour performing poorly in the polls and reports of internal division – swiftly evaporated at the news that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament was unlawful. Since becoming PM, Johnson has demonstrated an uncanny ability to unify his opponents.

The topic on everyone’s lips was Brexit. Labour is desperate for a position that appeals to everyone but the risk with this approach is that they might not appeal to anyone. Their position, as voted on at conference, is that Labour would renegotiate the withdrawal agreement with Brussels and then have a referendum between that agreement and remaining in the EU. Labour’s own position at this referendum would be decided at a special party conference.

Beyond Brexit, the conference unveiled a host of policy announcements that would form a basis of a radical manifesto and have specific implications for jobs and working patterns. These included:

• Reducing the average working week to 32 hours within 10 years
• Ending the UK’s opt-out from the EU Working Time Directive, which caps the number of hours people can work in an average week at 48
• Ending the ‘modern evil’ of in-work poverty within Labour’s first term in office
• Requiring all large employers to introduce a menopause workplace policy
• Making personal social care free at the point of use
• Large investment in green technology

Jeremy Corbyn’s speech focused on ‘economic transformation’. The priority for the REC and other business organisations will be to ensure that Labour hears the perspective of business and works with employers to understand the challenges that some of the proposed policies present.

The Brighton conference was a good opportunity to get our industry’s messages across – particularly the importance of having the workforce required to meet the needs of businesses and the public sector. REC CEO Neil Carberry attended a breakfast roundtable on immigration with other leading business organisations. This was part of the #FullStrength coalition, which the REC is a member of, which is calling for the future immigration system to keep the UK open to the workers the UK economy needs.

We also continued to push our campaign to broaden the Apprenticeship Levy. At present the vast majority of REC members who pay the levy cannot use the funds available, which is why changing the current Apprenticeship Levy to a more flexible training levy remains an industry-wide priority.

Meetings in Brighton with several key MPs, including the shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden, were a good opportunity for taking this forward. Additionally, the REC’s director of member engagement Kate Shoesmith spoke at a panel discussion on further education with, among others, the shadow business minister, Chi Onwurah.

Labour is looking into devolving more powers over skills to a local level. Recruiters have a crucial role to play here, with their knowledge of the local labour market and how best to match demand and supply of skills. Another hot topic at the fringe events was what ‘good employment’ looks like, with several combined authorities recently developing Good Work Charters used as examples. The REC has successfully fed into these charters and continues to be involved in this important debate. 

Next stop is Manchester. The Conservative Party Conference is still going ahead and the REC will be there again – ensuing that our industry is driving the jobs and growth agenda amid the current political chaos.

Chris Russell is policy adviser for the REC

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