UK Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 yesterday, officially kick starting the process of leaving the EU. The procedure prompted the recruitment industry to respond.

Kevin Green, chief executive at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, commented,

“Our members want the status of EU nationals working here to be confirmed as soon as possible. EU nationals make up 7% of the workforce and in some sectors that figure is much higher. In food processing, nearly a third of the workforce are EU nationals. One in five tech workers in London are from the EU. These people are integral to UK business and future wealth creation. 

“The UK has near-full employment and recruiters are saying the task of filling vacancies is becoming more difficult. EU workers are more likely to fill labour and skills gaps in industries that persistently report unfilled vacancies and skills shortages. We need an immigration system which reflects this reliance on workers from the EU. Everyone loses if UK employers can’t hire the people they need.

“The recruitment industry is on the front line of the UK jobs market. It is vital that government listens to business throughout the negotiations. The REC will continue to work in partnership with government to make sure our members’ voices are heard.”

The Association of Professional Staffing Companies also responded with Samantha Hurley, Operations Director at APSCo, commenting,

“We welcome the fact that Article 50 has finally been triggered as this marks the beginning of the end of a period of perceived uncertainty for the professional recruitment sector.”

“Many of the issues that are likely to arise from Brexit will have either a direct or indirect impact on professional recruitment.

“Access to talent is a top consideration. When APSCo surveyed members on notable post-Brexit risks after the referendum, 83% were worried about the availability of candidates post-Brexit. It is critical that recruiters can continue to find the best available talent either from within the UK, the EU or elsewhere. Conversely, it is critical that UK professionals can continue to work throughout the EU.”

“It is crucial that any changes to immigration rules after the UK has left the EU take into account the need for professional talent in both the UK and the European Union. APSCo will continue to call for realistic limits on immigration that allow the movement of professionals to the benefit of the whole economy.”

“APSCo is a global trade association and many of our members operate across borders. While continued access to candidates is, of course, vital, we must also consider the rights of the recruitment workforce itself. APSCo is concerned that the sharp rhetoric regarding Brexit negotiations could potentially obscure the rights of EU citizens in the UK and British citizens living overseas. It is critical for the recruitment sector that people from the EU working in the UK know where they stand - and soon.”

Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development, said:

“A key area of concern for many HR professionals is whether there will be any significant changes to employment rights and law. Our employment law is a mix of EU and UK based legislation and it would be very complex and time-consuming to unpick for little, if any, real gains. In its current form, we believe UK employment law and the employment rights framework provides an appropriate balance in providing flexibility for employers and security for individuals. Importantly we need to address the issues of employment rights for the growing number of self-employed and contract workers, but these are not directly related to Brexit. It’s vital that employment rights don’t become a bargaining chip in the course of negotiations as this would be a major distraction when the Government should be focusing on more pressing issues such as migration and access to skills outside of the UK.”