Train your own warns government as migrant numbers cut

In response to rising unemployment in th UK, the number of jobs open to skilled migrants from outside the EU might be cut by a third according to the government's immigration advisory board.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended that 270,000 fewer posts should be included on its list of occupational shortages, determining which skilled workers employers can automatically bring in from overseas. Construction managers, quantity surveyors, and social workers who deal with adults have been taken off the list, while restrictions on other care workers and chefs have been tightened.

However rising unemployment does not eliminate all skills shortages. Medical consultants with long training periods and high integrity pipe welders will still be needed from overseas.  MAC is paying particular attention to maths teachers and engineers to see whether skills gaps are being filled by laid-off financial services staff.

Skills training services such as Train to Gain are getting ready to fill the gaps.  I personally have taken advantage of their leadership training scheme and grant of £1500 and have been impressed by the flexibility of their approach.

Another great scheme is R2R (Response to Redundancy) which is available to employees being made redundant in the East of England.  Funding up to £1000 is available to help make candidates more marketable – for more information on how to access the funding please visit www.recrion.co.uk/free