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.