Advantages of Becoming a Sponsor in the Hospitality Sector
Advantages of becoming a sponsor in the hospitality sector
It is a challenging time for the hospitality industry in the UK. With Brexit and COVID, there’s a shortage of staff, but companies in the hospitality sector must be able to satisfy their client’s demands. It is really hard to recruit and retain the employees working for you in the sector.
How can the shortage of staff be resolved? Hiring professionals from abroad can be an appropriate step. This typically brings the following benefits to the business:
- Long-time training can be avoided by hiring experienced employees
- Diversity is achieved through the presence of multilingual specialists
- The business can be expanded by introducing new employees’ cultural backgrounds—they can introduce dishes from their local cuisine
- More advanced culinary techniques, knowledge of modern trends can be introduced by foreigners with global experience
- Top role employees can help a hotel or restaurant brand enter the international market which is an indisputable plus for the business
- The business can be expanded and new branches can be opened
All these benefits are attainable once you obtain a sponsor licence. You will be able to hire new specialists under the Skilled Worker route and relocate them to the UK as quickly as required. As we are now returning to normal life after restrictions and people are eating out and travelling, the need for a qualified workforce in hospitality is constantly increasing.
Benefits of holding a Sponsor Licence
Since the rules have been simplified by the government, it is much easier to bring a worker from abroad if they have sufficient experience or at least basic knowledge or qualifications in the field. It means that if you are a licensed sponsor, you can engage the employees in the business once you find them and they are granted a visa. Further, there’s no need to conduct a resident labour market test.
Here are some examples of roles you can hire on a Skilled Worker Visa:
- Chef and Sous Chef
- Chef - Manager
- Head Chef
- Pastry Chef
- Bar Manager
- Catering Manager
- Floor Manager (restaurant)
- Kitchen Manager
- Steward (club)
- Fish & Chip Shopkeeper
- Operations Manager (catering)
- Restaurant Manager
- Shop Manager (take-away food shop)
- Hotel Manager
Any business that meets the minimum requirements can apply for a sponsor licence.
You can offer genuine employment if:
- The business is legally trading in the UK
- Your managing staff does not have any penalties or convictions
- You have never employed illegal employees
If there are multiple branches of your business in the UK, you may either apply for one licence to cover all the linked UK entities or separate licences for each branch, depending on the circumstances.
To get a sponsor licence, you will need to apply online and provide the necessary documents in support of your application. The full list of documents depends on your circumstances. You will also need to demonstrate the ability to act in compliance with the Home Office requirements and monitor migrant workers by providing evidence of the company’s HR system.
Holding a sponsor licence will definitely help your business grow if you are working in the hospitality sector.
Expenses related to the Sponsor licence application
The fee for a sponsor licence depends on the size and the type of organisation. This application fee is payable once you apply for the first time and every time you renew the licence (every four years). Fees are typically reviewed by the Home Office on an annual basis and published on their website.
Currently, the fee for small or charitable sponsors is £536 and the fee for medium or large sponsors is £1,476.
You’re usually a small sponsor if at least two of the following apply:
- Your annual turnover is £10.2 million or less
- Your total assets are worth £5.1 million or less
- You have never employed illegal employees
You can get a better idea of a sponsor licence application by checking this blog post.
There are other fees involved related to the Skilled Worker visa application. You can reach out via the chat function to learn more about them.
How long does it take to get a Sponsor Licence
The average consideration time is 8 weeks, however, this can vary depending on the Home Office caseloads and the documents you provided.
Nation.Better can become your trusted partner on this immigration journey. We can help you:
- Identify if your company qualifies to become a licenced sponsor
- Assess if your candidate is eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa
- Apply for a sponsor licence and a Skilled Worker visa
- Provide you with the instruments to stay compliant with immigration regulations
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