Jobs Eligible for Sponsorship in the Construction Sector
Jobs Eligible for Sponsorship in the Construction Sector
A variety of construction jobs in the United Kingdom are eligible for sponsorship, using the Skilled Worker visa route. These positions include project managers, architects, construction engineers, and many more. This also includes specific plumbing, welding, or electrical tradespeople.
By sponsoring international workers, businesses can benefit from a diverse workforce with various skills and experiences. Additionally, these workers can bring new perspectives and ideas to their positions, helping to drive innovation and growth within the company. In this article, we will provide you with a complete list of jobs eligible for sponsorship in the UK Construction industry.
Which construction jobs are eligible for sponsorship?
Once you have obtained a Sponsor Licence and become a sponsor you can hire migrant workers for any of the following positions:
| Occupation Code | Job Type | Related Job Roles | Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1122 | Production managers and directors in construction | Building Services manager Construction manager Director (building construction) Owner (electrical contracting) | £35,700 per year (£18.31 per hour) |
| 2121 | Civil engineers | Building engineer Civil engineer (professional) Highways engineer Petroleum engineer Public health engineer Site engineer Structural engineer | £34,700 per year (£17.79 per hour) |
| 2431 | Architects | Architect Architectural consultant Chartered architect Landscape architect | £32,900 per year (£16.87 per hour) |
| 2432 | Town planning officers | Planning officer (local government: building and contracting) Town planner Town planning consultant | £27,700 per year (£14.21 per hour) |
| 2433 | Quantity surveyors | Quantity surveyor Surveyor (quantity surveying) | £31,100 (£15.95 per hour) |
| 2434 | Chartered surveyors | Building surveyor Chartered surveyor Hydrographic surveyor Land surveyor | £31,400 per year (£16.10 per hour) |
| 2435 | Chartered architectural technologists | Architectural technologist | £30,600 per year (£15.69 per hour) |
| 2436 | Construction project managers and related professionals | Contract manager (building construction) Project manager (building construction) Transport planner | £29,500 per year (£15.13 per hour) |
| 3112 | Electrical and electronics technicians | Avionics technician Electrical technician Electronics technician Installation engineer (electricity supplier) | £27,800 per year (£14.26 per hour) |
| 3114 | Building and civil engineering technicians | Building services consultant Civil engineering technician Survey technician Technical assistant (civil engineering) | £23,000 per year (£11.79 per hour) |
| 3121 | Architectural and town planning technicians | Architectural assistant Architectural technician Construction planner Planning enforcement officer | £26,600 per year (£13.64 per hour) |
| 3122 | Draughtspersons | CAD operator Cartographer Design technician Draughtsman | £28,600 per year (£14.67 per hour) |
| 3565 | Inspectors of standards and regulations | Building inspector Driving examiner Housing inspector Meat hygiene inspector Trading standards officer | £28,600 per year (£14.67 per hour) |
| 3567 | Health and safety officers | Fire protection engineer (professional) Health and safety officer Occupational hygienist Safety consultant Safety officer | £31,000 per year (£15.90 per hour) |
| 5214 | Metal plate workers, and riveters | Boiler maker Metal plate worker Plater Plater-welder | £27,700 per year (£14.21 per hour) |
| 5215 | Welding trades | Fabricator-welder Fitter-welder Spot welder (metal) Welder Welding technician | £23,100 per year (£11.85 per hour) |
| 5216 | Pipe fitters | Pipe engineer Pipe fitter Pipe welder-fitter | £31,700 per year (£16.26 per hour) |
| 5223 | Metal working production and maintenance fitters | Agricultural engineer Bench fitter Engineering machinist Fabricator Installation engineer Maintenance fitter Mechanical engineer | £24,700 per year (£12.67 per hour) |
| 5311 | Steel erectors | Steel erector Steel fabricator Steelworker (structural engineering) | £23,900 per year (£12.26 per hour) |
| 5312 | Bricklayers and masons | Bricklayer Dry stone waller Stone mason | £23,300 per year (£11.95 per hour) |
| 5313 | Roofers, roof tilers and slaters | Mastic asphalt spreader Roof tiler Roofer Roofing contractor Slater Thatcher | £20,200 per year (£10.36 per hour) |
| 5314 | Plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers | Gas engineer Gas service engineer Heating and ventilating engineer Heating engineer Plumber Plumbing and heating engineer | £26,700 per year (£13.69 per hour) |
| 5315 | Carpenters and joiners | Carpenter Carpenter and joiner Joiner Kitchen fitter Shop fitter | £22,500 per year (£11.54 per hour) |
| 5316 | Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters | Glass Cutter Glazier Installer (double glazing) Window fabricator Window fitter | £19,200 per year (£9.85 per hour) |
| 5319 | Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified | Acoustician Builder Building contractor Fencer Maintenance manager (buildings and other structures) Property developer (building construction) | £22,200 per year (£11.38 per hour) |
| 5321 | Plasterers | Fibrous plasterer Plasterer Plastering contractor | £24,000 per year (£12.31 per hour) |
| 5322 | Floorers and wall tilers | Carpet fitter Ceramic tiler Flooring contractor Mosaic floor layer | £23,000 per year (£11.79 per hour) |
| 5323 | Painters and decorators | Artexer French polisher Paper hanger Ship sprayer Wood stainer | £21,200 per year (£10.87 per hour) |
| 5330 | Construction and building trades supervisors | Builder’s foreman Construction foreman Construction supervisor Maintenance supervisor Site foreman | £32,200 per year (£16.51 per hour) |
Some of the positions listed above for the Skilled Worker visa are also on the Shortage Occupation List, meaning there are not enough workers in the UK labour market to fulfil the vacancies available in the sector. Positions found on the Shortage Occupation List benefit from a reduction in visa fees. The construction jobs currently experiencing shortages are listed in the table below. Click here for a full list of jobs on the Shortage Occupation List.
| Occupation Code | Job Type | Related Job Roles |
|---|---|---|
| 2113 | Physical scientists – in the following construction-related ground engineering industry | Engineering geologists Hydrogeologists Geophysicists |
| 2121 | Civil engineers | All Jobs |
| 2431 | Architects | All Jobs |
| 5215 | Welding trades | Only high integrity pipe welders, with 3 or more years of related experience |
Which construction jobs are not eligible for sponsorship?
Despite a growing number of vacancies in the sector, there are some construction jobs which are not eligible for sponsorship, this includes:
| Occupation code | Job titles | |
|---|---|---|
| 8149 | Construction operatives N.E.C. | Asbestos remover Cable layer Demolition worker Dry liner General handyman Maintenance man Thermal insulation engineer |
| 8221 | Crane drivers | Crane driver Crane operator Haulage engine driver Winchman |
| 8229 | Mobile machine drivers and operatives N.E.C. | Digger driver Dredger Excavator driver JCB driver Plant operator Rig operator |
| 9120 | Elementary construction occupations | Electrician’s mate (building construction) Ground worker (building construction) Hod carrier Labourer (building construction) |
How much would it cost to sponsor an eligible construction employee?
Before UK construction companies can hire international talent they will need to obtain a Sponsor Licence. Then there are other fees associated with the immigration process which include, assigning your preferred candidate with a Certificate of Sponsorship, submitting your candidate’s visa application and covering the Home Offices’ surcharges and fees.
Let’s look at an example of how to break down these costs. A construction company would like to hire a bricklayer for 2 years using the Skilled Worker visa. The construction company does not have a Sponsor Licence and has 150 employees.
- The construction company will need to obtain a Sponsor Licence before they can hire international workers. The Sponsor Licence application can take up to 8 weeks to process. At Nation.better we can help businesses obtain a licence for £1,000 + VAT (not including Home Office fees)
- The company will be considered a large organisation because it meets the criteria set out by the Home Office, therefore the visa application fee will cost £1,476
- Once the constructor has obtained a Sponsor Licence they will have a Certificate of Sponsorship allocation in their Sponsor Management System (SMS) to assign it to prospective international candidates. It costs £199 for a sponsor to assign a CoS to the bricklayer they’d like to sponsor
- Once the CoS has been allocated and the visa application process is underway, the company will also need to pay the Immigration Skill Charge. In this case, this would cost £728 for the 2 years in total, equivalent to £364 per year for the duration of the visa
- The restaurant or candidate will need to pay the Healthcare surcharge which costs £1,248 for the 2 years, equivalent to £624 per year
- Once the Skilled Worker visa application is ready to be submitted, the sponsor will be asked to pay the application fee which costs £625. The visa application will take 3 weeks to process for candidates applying from within the UK, or 8 weeks for those applying from outside the UK.
- In order to expedite the visa application process, the restaurant may choose to use the 5-day priority service which costs an additional £500.
Therefore it would cost the construction company £5,776 to sponsor an overseas restaurant manager to work for them for two years in the UK, using the priority service.
How can Nation.better assist you?
Nation.better allows businesses to streamline their immigration processes in one digital platform. Whether you require a Sponsor Licence, or you want to support a prospective employee with their visa application. The Nation.better platform seamlessly automates immigration processes to ensure employers remain compliant with Home Office regulations. With our self-guided digital platform, you can simplify your immigration processes. Our immigration advisors review your case and provide relevant feedback to boost your chances of success on your first try.
Furthermore, we offer businesses the opportunity to invite their preferred candidate to complete a complementary Visa Eligibility Check on our platform. This will verify their eligibility and suitability for the determined visa route.
Please book a complimentary consultation with our team, to learn more about our services and how we can assist you.
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FAQs
Workers considering migrating to the UK for work must have a job offer from an approved UK employer or sponsor before applying for the Skilled Worker visa. You can apply for jobs in the UK before you obtain the visa, but you must inform the recruiter that you are applying from outside the UK and will require a skilled worker visa to gain entry to the UK. For more information consult the Home Office website.
The minimum salary or hourly going rate for each occupation varies between different positions. For further information regarding salary bands within the construction industry click here.
The skilled worker visa is valid for 5 years before it will need to be renewed. After 5 years of living in the UK, visa holders may apply for Indefinite Leave To Remain status enables them to live and work in the UK without requiring a visa. Read our Sponsor Licence Guide for more details.
