Without the EU, we’ll plot our own path

THE Government’s proposed immigration rules from January next year will create benefits and problems.

Certainly, it will cause some major rethinking in various commercial operations who currently rely heavily on immigrant workers. Catering and care homes will be hard hit, for with unemployment figures relatively low, job specifications will have to be made much more attractive to encourage applications.

With higher educational standards now being achieved, school-leavers, pushed by proud parents, are not interested in ‘Downton’ type jobs.

They are choosing degree courses or apprenticeships that will lead to much more highly paid jobs.

Some are even starting their own businesses as reflected in the latest report from the Office of National Statistics that reveal that there were 5,400 more start-ups last year than in 2018, and that there are currently 5.9 million small and medium sized businesses in the United Kingdom.

Government could well take a lead by re-organising the care industry. Job and care quality standards should be laid down with clear career opportunities being defined to attract candidates in an expanding sector as people live longer lives.

Similarly, the catering industry must be pro-active in producing a clear career structure. Additionally, all businesses, small or large, must work harder on staff retention, especially in relation to the overseas workers that they currently employ. Failure to ensure that they have a happy staff could lead to recruitment becoming very costly indeed.

On the plus side, the UK will become a magnet for immigrants with qualifications which should lead to British businesses increasing productivity. Priti Patel’s immigration policy is a foretaste of many other changes that will inevitably come about, as we are once again our own masters. No longer will we have to conform to Brussels rule, we will be able to plot our own course from now on.

Exciting, but very challenging times.

Russell Luckock is chairman of Birmingham pressings firm

AE Harris