2/5 firms struggle to source skills as Brexit bites, survey reveals

Businesses are struggling to access the skills they need to thrive, with 39% of hiring managers finding that uncertainty around Brexit has directly impacted access to talent. That is according to a survey of 1,500 UK-based hiring managers by international talent acquisition and managed workforce solutions provider, Guidant Global.

The survey also revealed that a further 25% of respondents anticipate that the UK’s exit from the union will have a negative impact on skills availability in the near future.

When quizzed on their ‘wish lists’ for post-Brexit migration policy, 24% of those surveyed believed that clarity on immigration rules ‘at the earliest possible opportunity’ was crucial, while a similar number (23%) said that retaining free movement of labour within the EEA would be advantageous. A further 14% indicated that highly skilled workers should be prioritised, while 11% believed that the current Shortage Occupation List should be reviewed. One in 10, meanwhile, said that salary thresholds for Tier 2 visas should be reconsidered.

Other possible measures to ease a shortfall of skills included: extending the Tier 5 youth mobility scheme to cover shortages in unskilled labour; abolishing the Tier 2 visa cap; and relaxing the Tier 1 entrepreneurship route, which were favoured by 5%, 3% and 2% of respondents respectively.

Commenting on the findings, Simon Blockley, Managing Director, EMEA, at Guidant Global, said: “While Brexit is by no means the only external force influencing skills availability in the UK, as these findings illustrate, its impact is clearly significant.

“It has been widely documented that many UK businesses are finding it increasingly challenging to source the skills they need to prosper - and it is unsurprising that a significant proportion of employers are noting the effects of a slump in net migration from the EU on the ground.

“The current climate of uncertainty around Brexit is concerning on several levels. However, one thing is crystal clear: it is vital that future policy enables UK businesses to access the talent they need to thrive.”

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Notes to editors:

Information about Guidant Global
Guidant Global is a new dynamic in workforce solutions. It was recently formed from two companies coming together: Bartech, headquartered in the US, and Guidant Group in London. They are both part of Impellam, the leading provider of managed services and specialist staffing expertise based in the UK, North America, Australasia, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and mainland Europe. By uniting Bartech and Guidant Group we have unprecedented insight into the world at work. We assist our clients in sourcing, assessing and implementing complex talent solutions which engage contingent workers, consultants and freelancers for more information please visit: www.guidantglobal.com.

Information about Impellam Group

Impellam is the 2nd largest staffing business in the UK and 6th largest MSP provider worldwide. We provide managed service provision and specialist staffing solutions across the UK, North America and Asia Pacific. We have over 3,200 Impellam people throughout our network of 18 market-leading brands across 163 worldwide locations. Ultimately, Impellam Group’s mission is to provide fulfillment and a sense of purpose to its people, and to help customers build better businesses in a changing world. For more information about Impellam Group please visit: www.impellam.com

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