In its submission to HM Treasury, APSCo detailed the support that it believes is needed to create a “dynamic, modern and flexible labour market” with enough skilled workers to help the country “bounce back from the pandemic and boost the labour market in a cyclical fashion”.

In a statement released today, APSCo’s recommendations include:

• Continued funding for virtual Right to Work checks to promote opportunity across the country. 
• Investment in a ‘highly skilled’ workforce through visas for independent contractors: APSCo is calling for funding to be made available to provide a specific visa route for high-skilled, self-employed project workers from abroad who will be vital to plug the short-to-medium skills gap as the UK looks to upskill and re-skill the UK.
• Levelling up through investment in supporting start-ups, broadening the use of Apprenticeship Levy funds and a regional focus on skills: As digital and tech skills remain in high demand following the shift in how people work now, APSCo called for investment needs to be channelled into appropriate skills development and the growth of regional high-tech hubs in areas including Newcastle and Sheffield.
• Adequate funding for the introduction of a Single Enforcement Body (SEB): In APSCo’s view, the body should be tasked with driving “better and more consistent” collaboration with HM Revenue & Customs to push forward “more active, visible enforcement” of umbrella companies, being mindful and paying particular attention to the introduction of off-payroll. Adequate funding now to form the SEB should also prioritise the needs of today’s labour market and ensure that the regulation put in place and the protections the body will offer to workers reflect “the nuances of the recruitment industry, helping to drive a dynamic labour market”, APSCo said.

Tania Bowers, legal counsel and head of public policy at APSCo, commented that the UK had faced “more challenges in the last two years than we have in the last 50”, pointing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK’s exit of the EU and the roll-out to the private sector of tightened IR35 regulation as putting pressure on the recruitment industry.

“As a country, we must understand the fiscal and societal changes we need to make to be able to build back better and protect those financially affected by the impacts the Covid-19 virus has had on the country,” Bowers said. 

“To support policymakers and funding decisions, we believe the above recommendations will assist the country in building back better, by promoting opportunity across the country within the labour market to help tackle inequality and skills shortages, in turn helping to level up the country. We hope that the Treasury considers these in the upcoming Budget and Spending Review.”

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