Our managing director, Jonathan Beech spoke to HRZone about how HR professionals can ease critical skills shortages this year.
Read the full article here
There are three potential solutions HR could explore to fill some of the skills shortages:
1. The High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa:
The HPI visa has been launched at the end of May this year and is open to applicants of any nationality over the age of 18 with a degree from elite universities awarded in the last 5 years.
It can help ease skills shortages especially in the IT, science and engineerign sectors. Employers can hire top talent from the best 50 universities worldwide outside of the UK under the scheme without having to pay sponsorship fees.
Successful applicants can work freely for two or three years depending on their qualification.
It is not a direct route to settlement. Individuals planning to stay in the UK long term will need to switch into a different category such as the Skilled Worker route.
Jonathan Beech Managing Director
Although, it does not lead to settlement it still offers graduates and employers a new option at the start of their career.
2. The Graduate Immigration Route
The Graduate route has been available to international students wishing to remain in the UK since July last year. Those who have completed their studies can stay in the UK for up to 3 years if they are PhD students.
As this is an unsponsored route applicants don’t need an intial job offer to qualify. Individuals can work or look for work during their visa duration. It is also possible to study with the exception of study that already meets the approved qualification.
Those wishing to remain in the UK and continue their working relationship with their employer, at the end of the two or three-year period will be able to switch into the Skilled Worker route provided the requirements are met.
3. The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
As it includes most jobs, hospitality, retail and care work too, it can work for more entry-level vacancies. The only restriction is that individuals are not permitted to work as professional sportsperson.
Overseas applicants must be aged 18-30 and be the nationals of one of these countries: Australia, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Iceland. Applicants from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are entered into a ballot scheme before they can apply for the visa.
Individuals on this visa can stay in the UK for up to 24 months, leave and come back any time during the validity of their visa and are permitted to study, although they may be subject to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme requirement for certain courses.
Should your HR department wish to explore any of the above routes to solve skills shortages get in touch with a member of our team for further information.