Following the announcement that Boris Johnson has won the Conservative Party leadership race and will succeed Theresa May as prime minister with effect from 24 of July, a number of recruitment and employment industry bodies have responded.

In a tweet congratulating Johnson, Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said REC members are looking to the new prime minister for a “pragmatic, ambitious plan to boost the economy that starts with a cool head on Brexit and a smooth transition, but we also need to take action on skills, an effective immigration system, protecting our flexible labour market, good work and a tax system that works.”

Samantha Hurley, Director of Operations at the Association of Professional Staffing Companies, commented, “While the professional recruitment market may not be as exposed to the same potential post-Brexit risks as those recruiting for lower skilled roles, it is crucial that future strategy remains focused on attracting the talent our country needs.”

“With this in mind, we welcome Johnson’s position that the electorate has voted to control, rather than reduce, migration, and that an ‘Australian style’ points system could make the economy ‘much more open’ to skilled migrants,” Hurley said.

“The new PM’s suggestion that the economy would be stimulated through cuts to corporation tax - and his openness to exploring the possibility of allowing businesses to offset new capital investment - is also likely to be favoured by our members,” Hurley continued. “Many will also welcome Johnson’s commitment to boosting funding for technical and vocational apprenticeships. Our members report chronic skills shortages in sectors such as engineering, and developing talent in this area will create a highly-skilled workforce to meet demand for high-wage jobs.”

Seb Maley, CEO of Qdos, a tax specialist for contractors and the self-employed, also commented, “Where previous Prime Ministers have failed, we urge Johnson to focus on the way the government and HMRC treat the UK’s growing self-employed workforce, from sole traders, to contractors operating through their own limited companies. Amid Brexit uncertainty, it would certainly be in the Prime Minister’s interests to support independent professionals.