Data published by the NHS shows that 11 million fit notes were issued in 2023 with 94 per cent of these indicating that the recipients were not fit for work. A significant portion of these were repeat fit notes issued without further medical advice. These figures suggest that almost a third of working adults are inactive. This has come to be regarded by our Government as Britain’s “sick note culture,” where workers have been unnecessarily written off from work, often on a long term basis, and placed on benefits without receiving the appropriate support and treatment to aid them in returning to work. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that benefits had become a “lifestyle choice” for some workers, resulting in a “spiralling” welfare bill. A month ago, the Prime Minister highlighted his intention to introduce a package of welfare reforms to ensure those who are fit to work are not left behind by claiming benefits. This includes individuals with mental health issues, who could be better supported by therapies or respite care rather than cash transfers. One significant consequence of this welfare reform would be an overhaul of the fit note system. The focus of fit note discussions would shift to what people can do with the right support, rather than what they can’t do. This new process would be managed by specialist health professionals instead of GPs, who would conduct objective assessments of a person’s ability to work and then provide tailored support to help them return to work. The Government indicated that they would invest £65 million in a “WorkWell” pilot plan, designed to support people in staying and progressing in work. Fifteen areas have been selected for this pilot project. The WorkWell pilot plan will involve referrals to a work & health coach for staff members who are signed off from work and considering leaving employment altogether. Referrals can be made by the worker’s GP, employer, or local service. The coach will identify the worker’s health and social barriers to employment and develop a plan to address them. This plan may include sessions with a physiotherapist, meetings with a counsellor, and consultations with a Human Resource Advisor for employment advice. Participation in the WorkWell pilot plan is expected to be voluntary, and workers can also make self-referrals. The pilot plan is anticipated to start in late October 2024, with the goal of helping businesses reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. However, the true effectiveness of the program remains to be seen - especially given its voluntary nature.

We were delighted this week to receive the news that our entry under the category, Service Excellence was successful and we have been short listed as a Finalist . The SME Bedfordshire Business Awards are in their 7th year of celebrating the success of businesses in the local area and are made up of 22 categories. All entries are judged by a panel comprised of up to four individuals who are supporters of the category. Alliance Consulting has carved a reputation over the course of two decades establishing itself not only as a leader in the provision of best in class recruitment solutions but also for the level of service we provide to our clients and candidates. Listed below are just a handful of the testimonials we are proud to have received in recent years: "Having dealt with many recruiters in my time, I can confidently say Maria is the most competent, professional and personable I have I encountered. Maria has extensive industry knowledge, great experience and a wealth of contacts which make her a trusted and respected advisor in my industry ( Cybersecurity) Throughout the recruitment process she provided me with very valuable feedback and insights which made a huge difference. I am truly grateful as she helped me get a great job at an amazing company" "At my most critical moment, Dan Horne played a very important role in my career journey, enabling me to open a new page and I had the chance to join the talented team of Exveritas as a Senior Electrical and Electronic Product Certification Engineer. Dan's support was not limited to just providing new job role support, he also offered unique, excellent and professional support to help me find a home to rent while moving into my new workplace. It was an extraordinary privilege to work with Dan because of his exceptional problem-solving skills, professionalism, and determination that ultimately led to successful results. Thank you for your support, Dan and I wish you continued success." "Maria Mazzei and her team have helped us out tremendously and she's proven herself to be an excellent partner who buckles down to get done what needs to get done, and fast! She is honest with her capabilities and will tell you if something is not in her wheelhouse, which isn't much, but she can deliver what she promises. It's amazing to work with her and I see her as a trusted partner and valued friend. High-energy, trustworthy, honest, humble and fair are good words to describe her and I look forward to a long-term future partnership. THANK YOU! :) Until next time!!" "Transparent, go-getter, creative, out of the box & partnership are terms that I would use to describe Maria and her way of approaching recruitment. Maria was recommended to me by my colleagues in the UK. She helped us in finding the right candidates for difficult to fill positions such as Sales and Project Engineers & Service Technicians for our locations in the Netherlands and Belgium. She really helps throughout the entire recruitment process and challenges and gives advice on the best approach. Since she first wants to know the company she recruits for, she can give candidates a very good briefing and explanation of what Munters does, how we work and what we are looking for. A true partnership and extension of our company and hope to continue working together for a long time to come!" Having been a Finalist in 2023 at the REC Industry Awards for a similar award "Client Transformation through outstanding Recruitment Services delivered" we are exceptionally proud to have been recognised again by the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to attending the Awards Ceremony at Bedford Corn Exchange on 4th July.

Add Native Language Skills for Technical Sales to the Shortage Occupation List Language skills are vital in a world in which increasing numbers of businesses have a global presence and communicate in multiple languages. The UK is very much a hot spot for these types of companies and have hubs here from which they manage a vast number of their customers across many countries. These employers require multilingual staff, ideally native speakers of languages including French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese to name but a few. Since 2019, the UK has seen a steep decrease in EU nationals able to look for work in the UK with Brexit meaning a clampdown on free movement from the EU. In the first three quarters of 2023, 11,600 EU citizens were turned away at the border in comparison to 2,200 in 2019. At the same time, reports published showed that there has been a decrease in language learning skills in schools. With Linked In data from this month demonstrating more 2,000 roles currently open in the UK for German speakers, the same for French and Mandarin and 1,000 for Italian, it is apparent that fears from employers since 2019 that a shortfall for these skills would emerge were certainly justified. Whilst the Government has acknowledged that language skills are “increasingly important” for business, trade and competitiveness in the global marketplace and vital for many UK employers, they are yet to take steps to find a workable solution. Alliance Consulting has submitted a petition to the Government requesting the inclusion of I.T/Technical Sales staff to the shortage occupation list. Please show your support by following the link below and adding your signature. Thank you. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/657989