Confederation of Business Industry

• 16th May- Universities need to better explain employability skills to students, according to the CBI and NUS' new employability skills guide.
• 12th May- CBI and Pfizer's 'Absence and Workplace Health Survey' publishes figures showing a £17bn cost the economy last year from sickness leave.
• 11th May- CBI's Chief Policy Director welcomed the Employment Law Review, calling on employment law to reflect the increasingly flexible relationships between employers and employees.

Federation of Small Businesses

• 16th May- The proposed changes to flexible working and parental leave will hit small businesses hard, according to Chair John Walker.
• 12th May- The FSB have warned that the Localism Bill will have missed an opportunity if it doesn't adequately involve local business. Specific concerns mentioned by John Walker, highlight the absence of businesses in 'neighbourhood forums'.

British Chambers of Commerce

• 16th May- The BCC have questioned Government's commitment to reducing regulation, following the launch of the Modern Workplaces consultation on flexible working.
• 11th May- David Frost called on the Employment Law Review to result in less regulation for businesses, welcoming in particular consideration of collective redundancies, TUPE law, and compensation in discrimination cases.
• 12th May- Commenting on the figures on manufacturing output, the BCC's Chief Economist highlighted the need for manufacturing output to accelerate; driving exports and creating jobs.

Institute of Directors

• 20th April- The IoD's response to the 'Resolving Workplace Disputes' consultation argues for more aggressive tactics, including compulsory pre-conciliation. Miles Templeman said-

Higher Education

A flyer targeting those considering undertaking higher education part-time in 2012 was launched recently. The flyers have been welcomed by stakeholders who are keen to have information on the reform. Stakeholders have used the material as is, as well as adapted it for inclusion in their own marketing material.

BIS Comms have received feedback on the design, taking this on board, will be redesigning the flyers. BIS will also be working with a number of stakeholders to redraft some of the messages, particularly in the part-time flyer, to ensure the messages resonate with the audience.
 

Access to Education

Simon Hughes MP, the Advocate for Access to Education, is continuing his outreach work with young people, talking to them about further and higher education. He has visited schools, colleges and universities in Merseyside, Greater London, Hampshire, the Midlands and Cornwall. In the next month he will be visiting Kent and Northern Ireland.

As part of his outreach work, he is continuing to meet with stakeholders from University vice-chancellors and NUS, to the Sutton Trust and the National Youth Theatre.

Simon is due to produce a report based on his findings to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister at the end of June. For further information about his work visit the Advocate’s website.

In the pipeline..

The Employment Law Review team in Employment Relations are working with colleagues in Comms to prepare for the launch of the Employment Toolkit at the end of May. The Toolkit outlines things which an employer would need to know and signposts to further information on taking on staff. The team are engaging closely with employment stakeholders to work on the Toolkit, whilst Comms are exploring channels to promote the Toolkit with.

Have something to contribute? 

The sections of this bulletin entitled ‘BIS Policy Stakeholders’ & ‘In the Pipeline’ are intended to allow you to share what is currently being said by your stakeholders, and what future pieces of work may bring stakeholder reaction.