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Your Voice » Policy Areas » Employment & Skills

Employment, Skills and Workplace Legislation

 

Skills are central to the success of any business. That's why here at the Chamber we recognise the importance of giving our members a platform to voice their views on education to decision-makers at local, regional and national levels. An additional concern for all our members is red-tape and new legislation. The Employment and Skills Committee aims to keep members informed and take action in your best interests.  

If you have any Employment Skills  and Workplace Legislation issues you would like to raise with us contact Paul Thomas (Skills Policy Advisor) on 07979 526888 or by email on cpaulthomas@ovi.com or Sana Nabi on 0161 237 4045 or by email on sana.nabi@gmchamber.co.uk.

 

The Employment and Skills Committee exists to ensure that Greater Manchester businesses have their say on this important issue. The Committee not only discusses and analyses key concerns, but also gives members the chance to take action, in the event that new laws have a detrimental effect on industry. The committee is chaired by Joanne Lynch, HR Manager, Thomas Storey Fabrications. Meet the committee

Issues on the agenda

The Employment and Skills Committee aims to represent members on a number of important legal, educational and skills issues, which affect businesses across Greater Manchester.

In the run up to the recent General Election the Chamber produced a paper on skills and related issues to help to inform the policies of the incoming government. This has since been developed further in coordination with the Birmingham, Leeds and London chambers and submitted to the key ministers in the Coalition Government. For the full version of the document, click here.

In the coming weeks and months, the Chamber will be developing these ideas further in collaboration with other chambers and taking account of the emerging policies of the Coalition Government (including crucially, the need to demonstrate how any new initiatives can be funded and what the Government's priorities should be for the diminishing public funding available).

Any comments on these ideas or any other suggestions to make, please contact Paul thomas on cpaulthomas@ovi.com or on 07979 526888.

 Current Consultations

The Government has released a number of consultations on a range of different issues. The Chamber has responded or is in the process of responding to the ones below. If you would like to submit any evidence or answers to any of the consultations then please contact Sana Nabi on 0161 237 4045 or alternatively, send her an email.

 

 Skills for Sustainable Growth

The British Chambers of Commerce have responded to this Department for Business, Innovation and Skills consultation paper and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has had a substantial input into this response.

 Click here to view the Chamber's response. 
 

 Phasing out the Default Retirement Age

On behalf of its business membership, the Chamber is campaigning against the removal of the default retirement age as this will have a significant impact on employers. Contact us if you would like to help formulate a response to this consultation. 

  Click here to view the consultation.
 

 Improving the Operation of Pay As You Earn (PAYE)

The Government plans to change the current pay system and this consultation wants to discover how real time information might change the current PAYE system, including costs and benefits, and how in the future it might be used to make "centralised deductions" from earnings.

  Click here to view the consultation