The Best Connection’s Survey reveals EU Nationals need further guidance on Settlement Scheme process
Date: 8th Thursday, August, 2019
A recent survey of The Best Connection’s EU Nationals employee base* has revealed that 69% of respondents have not yet applied for the EU Settlement Scheme which was launched in March this year.
As one of the UK’s largest providers of temporary labour to the industrial, driving and warehousing sectors, The Best Connection supports a significant EU Nationals workforce. To ensure they receive support and guidance throughout the Brexit process, feedback on intents and knowledge is being used to shape its communications initiative.
“As an employment business we need to ensure that we can provide a constant supply of quality temporary workers to our customers the length and breadth of the UK. We rely on our European temporary workforce to help deliver this commitment and understand that uncertainty around Brexit will be making many people feel insecure about their future. We have a duty of care to make sure our workers are aware of the facts and processes around the EU exit process,” says Neil Yorke, Director, The Best Connection.
Of the 69% of workers that provided feedback, the main reasons for not having applied for the EU Settlement Scheme included a lack of understanding of the process (50%) and a belief that Brexit will not happen (38%). Over 3.5 million EU Nationals have until June 2021 to apply for the scheme. According to the CBI, almost 1 million workers have been through the process with only a 0.01% rejection rate.
In order to communicate developments around Brexit, The Best Connection has been running an initiative led by its internal ambassador for Brexit, Alex Dirman (pictured). Alex, who is a Project Manager in the Onsite Connection team at The Best Connection, is a Romanian citizen who has been living in the UK for the past six years and understands how important it is to be informed on this subject.
“With the highest employment levels recorded in the UK in 2018 and the lowest net migration figures in 10 years for EU citizens entering the UK - at 57,000 people - not surprisingly, Brexit features very highly on The Best Connection’s risk register. The risk is monitored at Board level and reviewed regularly, with surveys undertaken with our EU workforce that will amplify their views as Brexit changes shape, be it deal or no-deal,” Alex Dirman commented.
The Best Connection’s communications programme includes a Brexit informational webpage for all EU workers, notices and handouts with integrated QR code options translated into multiple EU languages. This is supported by a social media campaign and weekly internal updates to guide all The Best Connection’s staff on how best to support EU workers and where appropriate supplementary information can be found.
“Although the deadline for the submission of applications for the EU Settlement Scheme is some way ahead, it is important that the process is fully understood and people apply as soon as possible,” added Neil Yorke.
* 1500 surveyed. EU Nationals groups: 56% Polish, 17% Romanian, 27% other nationalities
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For more information please contact:
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Neil Yorke |
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Jan Blann |
