The UK workforce has larger and more chronic skills gaps than in most peer countries, with surveys reporting widespread recruitment difficulties, with implications for output, in high-skill sectors like digital and software, manufacturing, medicine and life sciences, teaching, and construction. This partly reflects declines in primary and post-secondary education outcomes (particularly science scores, over the past two decades) and in workplace training and apprenticeships, particularly for the young. Moreover, the recent increase in non-EU migrants has not fully offset the adverse impact from Brexit on the availability of needed skills, including because smaller firms face more recruitment hurdles with regard to non-EU hires. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to upskill the UK workforce, both by building on ongoing efforts, as well as additional concrete measures to: (i) encourage students and young workers to join and excel in STEM; (ii) ensure adequate vocational and on the job training, particularly for the young; (iii) retain the talent produced by UKs world leading universities; (iv) upskill the existing labor force; and (v) facilitate attraction and retention of in-demand skills through adjustments to the visa regime.

United Kingdom: Selected Issues

Unlocking Business is a new kind of textbook for business students in their first and second year of a degree. Unlocking Human Resource Management provides the following benefits: - Strict coverage of key knowledge, concepts and ideas, keeping the title lean and focused and allowing students to find what they want without having to plough through thousands of pages. - Carefully written for the learner - case studies, exercises and seminar ideas are woven into the text to help students learn as quickly as possible and to retain that knowledge in the most time-efficient way. - Encourages good practice such as complete referencing and suggested wider reading, to help those who wish to obtain the best possible degree classification. - Useful web resources include further case studies, revision summaries and interactive multiple-choice quizzes at www.routledge.com/cw/inman - A cost-effective way to prepare students for their studies.

Employment regulation has been growing rapidly. This has not exclusively, or even mainly, come from the European Union. Recent UK governments have added such significant new measures as the National Living Wage, workplace pensions and the Apprenticeship Levy. The costs of such regulation are frequently assumed – by both advocates and opponents – to fall on business profits. This isn’t so, except in the very short run. They are instead transferred in part to consumers, but mainly to employees themselves. Mandated benefits – longer holidays or extended maternity leave – mean reduced pay growth and fewer job opportunities. Anti-discrimination laws lead to fewer openings for disadvantaged groups, while employment protection legislation worsens job prospects for the young. Excessive regulation acts as a barrier to entry, shielding incumbents and deterring the foundation of new enterprises. Attempts to restrict new types of employment in the ‘gig’ economy are counterproductive, serving ‘insiders’ at the expense of ‘outsiders’. This book combines a history of employment laws with detailed analysis of the troublesome effects of various interventions. The author argues for a fundamental rethink. Some basic labour market regulation may still be necessary, but far less than we currently have.

There is a general consensus that deep-seated changes are reshaping the way production and work are organized, the way employees, employers and their representatives deal with each other, and the way governments seek to shape society. In this work a group of leading scholars take stock of the evidence and implications of the new workplace. Drawing on examples from a variety of national contexts, they seek to characterize the nature of contemporary workplace change, and assess its implications for the organization of work for workers, for employment relations and for public policy.

Get 12 months FREE access to an interactive eBook when purchasing the paperback* Reflecting the global nature of the workplace with its use of real world examples and case studies, Nick Wilton’s book is not another ′How to′ of HRM in practice, but goes beyond the prescriptive approach to the practice of strategic HRM and encourages critical reflection to prepare students for the issues and dilemmas they could face in their careers. Providing an introduction to the management of people in work organizations, it seeks to outline the purpose and operation of HRM activities in the ′real world′, whilst situating practice in the context of associated debates and controversies played out in the parallel field of academic study. It adopts a critical perspective on the study and practice of HRM to provide the reader with an understanding not only of the potential for HRM to contribute to both improved organizational performance and individual well-being in the workplace, but also why it very often fails to achieve either of these positive outcomes and suggests that the management of people is not the exclusive preserve of HR specialists, but an area of interest or concern for all organizational actors. The new edition comes packed with features that encourage readers to engage and relate theory to practice including: - Management skills and attributes boxes outlining the required competencies of line managers and HR practitioners - HR in practice boxes illustrating how HRM theory works in real world practice - Ethical insights presenting ethical considerations for budding practitioners - Global insights highlighting practices around the world - Research insights inviting students to explore further academic research - Case Studies and Examples offering a more in-depth look at HRM across a variety of organizations - A free interactive eBook* featuring author videos, web-links interactive multiple choice questions, free SAGE journal articles, extended case studies and other relevant links, allowing access on the go and encouraging learning and retention whatever the reading or learning style. Aimed at students across the academic spectrum, whether studying on a specialist HRM or CIPD program of study, a generalist business and management programme or studying HRM as part of a programme in an unrelated discipline (such as engineering or humanities). *Interactivity only available through Vitalsource eBook included as part of paperback product (ISBN 9781473954199). Access not guaranteed on second-hand copies (as access code may have previously been redeemed).

Work and Employment in a Changing Business Environment is the definitive textbook for the new CIPD Advanced Level 7 module. It provides students with an understanding of the major contemporary trends in the HR business environment and discussion of significant areas of HR and Learning and Development (L&D) activity that derive from or are given additional prominence as a result of environmental developments. It provides students with an understanding of ways in which major, long-term environmental developments affect employment, work and people management in organizations as well as a thorough grounding in current and short-term developments in the people management environment. These areas include globalisation, technology, the economy, labour markets, society, politics, public policy and employment regulation. This book also includes expert coverage of how change, innovation and creativity can promote improvements in organisational productivity. Most importantly, this brand new textbook covers the key elements that students on HR masters courses will need in their future careers including flexibility, agility and resilience. productivity, ethics and values, sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, wellbeing and working internationally. Case studies and examples demonstrate how the theory applies in practice and pause and review boxes will help students think critically about the content. Work and Employment in a Changing Business Environment is ideal reading for all postgraduate students on both CIPD and non-CIPD accredited courses. Online supporting resources include powerpoint slides for every chapter.

This important book is for anyone who wants to make the most of work-based learning: employees, employers, educationalists, policy makers and researchers. It sheds light on ways of giving full-time employees the chance to take up learning opportunities which are of the same level and rigour as those on offer to the full time student. It approaches the subject from the perspective of the learner, drawing on case studies to provide detailed insight. It suggests that universities already have in place much of the machinery needed to support learners who are in work: they just don't make enough use of it. Look closely and you will find a substantial legacy of this kind of activity by universities. This is a book about seizing opportunities. In one volume, Understanding Work-Based Learning makes a valuable contribution to current employer engagement and learner demand debates, and provides first hand learner experiences to guide existing and potential work based learners, employers, educationalists, policy makers, and researchers.

The public sector spends nearly GBP 125 billion, or ten per cent of GDP, each year purchasing goods and services in the UK economy. This report focuses on whether the rules and practices relating to procurement of goods and services by public authorities hinder or help UK manufacturers in obtaining public contracts.

Develop best practice and improve your leadership skills with our second edition textbook (for the 3096-51 specification). - Develop a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge and skills required with detailed coverage of all mandatory units - Apply theoretical aspects of the Diploma in the workplace, and use our 'Evidence Opportunity' feature to test your understanding of the assessment criteria - Build confidence reviewing and evaluating practice in Adult Care settings with 'Reflect On It' activities, and examples of reflective accounts - Prepare a strong portfolio, with advice and activities on how to use evidence most effectively This textbook has been fully updated to meet the requirements of the updated Skills for Care qualification criteria.