MAKE UK: February’s Committee and Regional Meetings

On Monday 19th February Fashion-Enter Ltd’s Founder, Jenny Holloway, joined the MAKE UK’s Labour Market and Skills Policy Committee.

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. The organisation holds quarterly meetings with industry members to report on and discuss policies and issues affecting the sector.

In this session the discussion centred on:

+ Apprenticeships

+ Flexible working

+ Life-long learning

+ Skills policy update

Siobhan from UCAS presented a slideshow highlighting the range of services that UCAS now provides for young people making choices about apprenticeships, including advice and guidance. She also mentioned the work that UCAS is doing with IfATE to work on integrating occupational pathways into the surveys, and the importance of creating an employer profile.

Siobhan also kindly shared the following links:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie Cater, Senior Policy Manager (Employment) Make UK, gave an update on member’s views in light of the new flexible working ‘right to request’ from day one. He noted an increase in hybrid working, and an anecdotal increase in considerations of a 4-day week/9-day fortnight using compressed hours. The impact of the new right to request is likely limited, with 56% of members expecting no change in their approach to flexible working.

Jamie further highlighted changes we may expect in flexible working should the Labour Party win the next general election. He asked for further feedback from members regarding this issue.

On the potential for a new government to ban the use of zero hours contracts, members shared that it would unusual for these to be used, particularly for young people. There is the potential for these to be used to encourage older workers who may have become inactive over recent years to return to the labour market on flexible basis. Zero hours contracts may also be used for those working on a project basis with a specific or specialised skillset.

This was followed by Shelley Davies from the RSA, she shared a slideshow on the RSA’s current work on lifelong learning. She highlighted that the RSA has been running awards for a long time, but is updating these to ‘Design for Life’ awards to focus on resilience and regenerative working this year.

They aim to focus on ‘life-centric’ skills, and are working with fellows to create ‘learning journeys’ surrounding each skill, which will have corresponding ‘digital badges’ that demonstrate their understanding to future employers. Alongside these ‘learning journeys’, the RSA will be offering mentoring, support and feedback. These aim to launch this year in September.

Jamie, Make UK, returned to give a brief policy update on the organisations work this quarter, and what Make UK will be working towards over the next few months. 

Jamie highlighted improving recruitment success and lower sickness absence rates, but a continuation of trends in reasons for staff leaving. Make UK are also working with the Department for Education and the Treasury on the Apprenticeship Growth Sector Pilot – we understand that an announcement will be coming soon, likely on capital funding for providers to offer courses with a low volume of starts but a wider economic value.

Spring Budget submission key asks include reducing the employer national insurance contributions, as well as continued work on the apprenticeship growth sector pilot. Make UK have also reiterated previous asks around the apprenticeship levy, support for upskilling and retraining, as well as support for occupational health (employer tax incentives).

This session was followed by the Make UK Regional Advisory board for the South East on Thursday 22nd February. Held at SMR Automotive Mirrors UK Limited, the meeting provided the opportunity to see another manufacturing facility in action and to discuss current issues and economic developments within the industry.

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