16 April 2008

Employment legislation now affecting employers from 6 April 2008

We summarise which employment legislation now affects your business.

Birmingham Training Centre to host WorldSkills competition

EEF West Midlands and WorldSkills UK are looking for young engineers to represent the UK at next year’s WorldSkills Olympics in Calgary. The organisations have combined forces to try and find a world beating team of engineers that could win the Manufacturing Team Challenge category.

Manufacturing pay remains stable

Increases in the cost of living are not feeding through into higher pay settlements in manufacturing, according to the latest data from EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

Manufacturers welcome strategy for high level skills

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation welcomed today’s Higher Education strategy as an important recognition of the need to improve both the supply of high level qualifications and the personal skills needed for success in the modern world of work.

Manufacturers welcome rate cut but stress more may be needed

Manufacturers welcomed today’s 0.25% cut in interest rates and urged the Bank of England to be ready to take further decisive action.

Register of Environmental Legislation 2008

The Register provides an accessible and comprehensive register of the principal environmental legislation that could affect a manufacturing company.

Rates cut essential to limit contagion from financial sector

The Bank of England should cut interest rates again this week in the face of growing evidence that the problems in the financial sector could spill over into the wider economy, according to EEF West Midlands.

What are psychosocial risks in the workplace?

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has issued a factsheet on emerging psychosocial risks related to work. EEF has raised several concerns.

Nuffield Science Bursaries

Nuffield Science Bursaries offer up to 1,000 funded places a year, so that students across the UK can get an insight into the world of scientific research and development, including areas of technology, engineering and maths.

Engineering Apprentice of the Year Awards 2008

The EEF West Midlands Engineering Apprentice of the Year competition for 2008 is now underway.

Your help is needed to tackle congestion in the West Midlands

West Midlands Business Transport Group (WMBTG) in conjunction with Local Authorities across the West Midlands are surveying businesses about their experiences of congestion across the region.

Changes to checks for those working with children and vulnerable adults

Changes to checks for those working with children and vulnerable adults in England and Wales will start from October 2009. The creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is part of the biggest overhaul of vetting and barring arrangements ever undertaken in this country. It will cover 11.3 million people wishing to seek work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults.