Executive Forum Europe’s second day in London began with Matthew Taylor’s, Chief Executive of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and Tony Blair’s former Policy Chief, keynote session.

Taylor addressed the growth of the gig economy and what it means for the future of work and for the staffing industry. “Banning new forms of work doesn’t work,” Taylor said. He also focused on employment regulation within the changing world of work as well as addressing the future of the Agency Workers Directive after Brexit and the Swedish Derogation. During the panel he also answered a number of questions relating to the Taylor Review on Modern Employment Practices, which was published earlier this year and the effect of the gig economy on employment. He he hopes to change the conversation around how people think about the future of work.

More than 200 people attended the conference which began with a keynote session from SIA President Barry Asin, Executive Director of Global Research John Nurthen, and SVP of Contingent Workforce Strategies Bryan Peña. The keynote touched on various trends that impacted both buyers and suppliers in the workforce solutions ecosystem including the longest slowest period of economic recovery in history.  Nurthen referred to UK’s competitive established market with 24,000 plus staffing firms. Opportunities for the industry lie ahead. For example, buyers of staffing services were asked the size of their company’s contingent workforce. According to SIA Buyer’s Survey, in 2017 the buyers estimated the size was 20%, in 2027 they said this figure is expected to reach 25%.

Day I concluded with a reception honouring members of the 2017 Staffing 100 Europe and the Global Power 100 - Women in Staffing International 50 list.