4 APR 2024
FE & HR News Highlights: New Skills Minister, Redundancy Laws, College VAT, Flexible Working
It's the Easter Holidays and as such, a quieter than usual week... grab a coffee and take a look at these interesting articles you may have missed:
Who is Luke Hall? 11 facts about the new skills, apprenticeships and HE minister
Luke Hall was appointed as a Department for Education minister last week following the sudden resignation of Robert Halfon. The DfE has now confirmed that Hall will take over all of Halfon’s responsibilities for skills, apprenticeships, and higher education. FE Week blog.
Changes to redundancy law for new and expectant parents: an employer’s guide
With the legislation coming into effect imminently, People Management speaks to the experts about how workplaces should prepare.
The Government’s apprenticeship reforms must accelerate a skills revolution
The UK faces a skills shortage, and while new apprenticeship funding is welcome, it’s not enough. Employers must invest more in training, focusing on long-term needs. Management skills are crucial for productivity. The government and businesses must work together to expand high-quality, work-based training across all ages and sectors. FE News article.
Why are over 50s looking for flexible work?
More and more businesses are taking steps to attract and retain over-50s talent. With the number of later-life workers rising, employers are keen to take the opportunity to fill skills shortages and reap the benefits of a multigenerational workforce. Rest Less blog
The PM’s apprenticeship reforms are a drop in the ocean
Last week, the Prime Minister announced a package of reforms to unlock a “tidal wave of opportunity” for UK apprenticeships. This included an additional £60 million, which he claims will provide up to 20,000 more apprenticeships. Sadly, this amounts not to a tidal wave but to a drop in the ocean. Full FE Week article.
The court ruling that ‘cast a long shadow’ over college VAT
A court ruling that upended a long-held understanding over the VAT status of FE colleges continues to “cast a long shadow” over whether they can claim discounts on large building projects, some four years after it was issued.
The ruling by judges in the Upper Tribunal of the Tax and Chancery Chamber in late 2020 undermined an established government policy that required further education colleges to pay VAT on most of their spending. Full story.
Flexible Working Bill | Over half of UK workers ready to take advantage of new flexible working laws
The changes introduced by the Flexible Working Bill on April 6 - allowing workers to ask for flexible working from day one of their employment (previously six months) - look set to lead to a sharp increase in flexible working requests even though 74% of employees report already having some degree of flexibility. HR Grapevine article.
How to make your hiring process neurodivergent friendly
Creating an inclusive workplace that values neurodiversity not only benefits individual employees, but also promotes a culture of acceptance and diversity within the organisation. There are many benefits to hiring neurodivergent candidates, for example, candidates with autistic traits can excel in specialist subjects, bring creativity to problem-solving, and have a keen eye for patterns. Their attention to detail ensures high-quality work, and their exceptional memory helps efficiency. HR News story.