BMTA Newsletter BMTA Newsletter - Spring 2020 | Page 4
bmta.co.uk
NEWS
ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES
AT BMTA
The Association has streamlined its management structure.
After 10 years as Chief Executive, Dr Jeff Llewellyn has retired
from the role and the post has been abolished. Greg Ward,
Managing Director of Abacus Communications, who currently
provide BMTA’s secretariat services, communications and events
organisation took over as Secretary General with effect from
1 January this year. Jeff will continue as the BMTA President
and to serve on the BMTA Council.
Tony Smith continues as the Chair of Council. Greg will focus on
membership services, members recruitment, and
communications including the Newsletter and website. Jeff and
Tony will continue to represent the Association in external forums
and in UKAS.
We consider that this slimmer structure is better suited to the
specialist Trade Association comprising some 80 member
companies and organisations accounting for some 350 facilities
across the UK. [A full list of Council members can be found on
the BMTA website].
We also pleased to advise that BMTA have recently signed an
agreement with Make UK to help engage more broadly with
manufacturers and to highlight the importance of quality
calibration and testing.
Make UK works for the success of more than 2.7 million people
employed in UK manufacturing. Representing member
companies – from small businesses to multinationals – across
every industrial sector, Make UK are an influential voice of
manufacturing, enabling members to connect, share and create
opportunities together.
Make UK's extensive knowledge of manufacturing means they're
able to influence policymaking at local, national and international
levels.
MAC TO COMPILE SHORTAGE
OCCUPATION LIST
The Home Office has commissioned the Migration
Advisory Committee (MAC) to compile a Shortage
Occupation List focused on RQF levels 3 – 5 (medium
skilled) and report back to the Government in September.
To inform their work, the MAC is asking for businesses to
submit evidence of labour and skills shortages. The Home
Office is continuing to work towards introducing the new pointsbased
immigration system from 1st January 2021.
The responses will provide the Committee with a picture of the
current migration issues and will support the evidence-based
recommendations delivered to the Home Secretary in
September 2020.
The government has said that whether an occupation is in
shortage will be one of the key factors for which a migrant will
be able to score tradeable points under the new points-based
immigration system when it is introduced.
The Home Secretary has asked the Committee, an
independent body, to gather views from businesses on what
skills are currently in short supply across the UK labour market.
Interim Chair of the MAC, Professor Brian Bell, said: "We
appreciate that the coronavirus outbreak has placed
businesses in an enormously difficult situation, but input is vital.
Any time they can give, or information they can provide will be
greatly valued and aid us in providing the government with
robust recommendations. We must proceed with this Call for
Evidence now in order to deliver our report in September 2020
as requested. The shortage occupation list is a government
compiled list of occupations for which the evidence suggests
there are not enough UK workers to fill vacancies."
There is also a Scotland specific list in addition to the UK-wide
one. The Home Secretary commissioned the Committee to
consider what medium-skill occupations, requiring RQF 3-5
qualifications (A-levels and equivalents), should be added to a
UK wide list of occupations in shortage.
The Committee does not intend on asking for evidence for the
roles covered on the current lists, which are roles for which a
degree or its equivalent is needed (RQF 6), as they plan for
these to remain in place at this review.
It is recognised that coronavirus will impact the ability of
businesses and employers to respond to the call for evidence
and this will be reflected in the final report.
Call for evidence:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/shortageoccupation-list-call-for-evidence
The MAC consultation process closes on 24th June 2020.