Recruiters should be part of the proposed mayor-led local apprenticeship service, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has said in response to the Chancellor’s speech.
Shazia Ejaz, the REC’s director of campaigns, said recruitment specialists could help connect local skills needs with training provision and employers. The organisation argues that recruiters’ knowledge of vacancies and changing demand would strengthen the service.
“Involving recruiters would complete the puzzle, bringing together local leaders, training providers, employers and recruitment experts to help more young people skill up to meet the demands of local employers.”
Shazia Ejaz, director of campaigns, REC
The REC also called for a flexible Growth and Skills Levy that supports shorter training courses. It says flexibility is important if training is to respond to the skills employers need and give more people routes into work.
Its response also stressed the importance of preserving flexible temporary work opportunities. For employers and recruitment businesses, the proposals put renewed emphasis on collaboration between local leaders, training providers and those matching candidates with jobs.
The comments were issued on 28 September 2026. They are the REC’s policy response rather than evidence that recruiters have already been assigned a formal role in the proposed service.
