EEDA - East of England Development Agency

Businesses helped to maximise the benefits of employing migrant workers

9 September 2008

Businesses from across the East of England will discuss the benefits of employing migrant workers and learn about how to minimise any potential risks at a national conference to be held in Newmarket next week (Thursday 18 September).

Managing the migrant workforce, a conference sponsored by ACAS and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and supported by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), will provide timely advice on the back of the government’s announcement today that new measures will aim to cut the number of foreign workers from outside the EU coming to the UK.

With the introduction of the new points-based system — the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for 45 years designed to ensure the UK only takes-in the skilled migrant workers it requires — the conference will guide businesses through the current legal implications of managing a migrant workforce. Other key topics including language barriers, cultural differences and training options will be discussed by a host of organisations who specialise in migrant worker employment issues.

Mark Allison, migrant workers manager at EEDA, explains:

“There will be businesses across the UK who are weighing-up the pros and cons of employing migrant workers, but perhaps see the legal and practical issues of recruiting them as a step too far. Not only will delegates at this conference hear from businesses who are already reaping the rewards of skilled and dedicated migrant workforce, they will be given the confidence and appropriate guidance by expert support organisations to navigate their way through the various procedures involved.”

Delegates will have the opportunity to speak to representatives from the UK Borders Agency and ask questions or raise concerns over the new points-based system.

Managing the migrant workforce is part of a portfolio of projects currently in progress by EEDA which also includes an economic impact study — looking at the potential risks to the economy if numbers of migrant workers was to decrease — which will be published in the New Year. The conference will be hosted at the Rowley Mile Conference Centre in Newmarket. It will start at 9.30am and conclude at 4pm.

For more information, or to register as a delegate, visit www.bookevents.org/migrantworkforce

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