Solving the skills shortage: What can we do to help?

The UK skills shortage is creating a severe threat to multiple businesses in diverse industries. In 2022, it’s expected that 90% of UK organisations will hire employees—a significant increase from 66% in 2021.

Reports also show that the UK skills shortage is expected to cost the country £120 billion by 2030. Companies are looking for alternative options, such as recruiting employees from outside the country.

While many graduates are entering the labour market, businesses believe that they don’t possess the skills needed to undertake specific responsibilities in a professional capacity and that educational institutes must work closely with organisations to bridge these skills gaps to meet future labour demands.

Research shows that skills shortages are a growing challenge to the economy. Even though this is the case, the skills that are most required are either not being trained within organisations or are seen as low priority.

Why should you sponsor skilled workers?

Sponsoring skilled workers from outside the UK gives businesses a broader option to recruit international talent by ensuring that workers meet the Skilled Worker eligibility requirement. Organisations also have the opportunity to fill vacancies that don’t possess the right candidates within the country, providing them with an unlimited pool of international candidates to choose from.

Aside from solving the skills shortage, businesses that hire international talent are in a unique position to take advantage of the different cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds that these Skilled Workers possess and use them to create a better business environment.

With many studies and reports confirming that diverse workforces have proven to become assets for businesses that are looking to discover and expand into different markets, businesses in the UK have a lot to gain through the Skilled Worker route.

How can you employ skilled workers from outside the UK?

Irrespective of nationality, businesses are required to sponsor any international worker that they wish to employ. This requirement extends to employees who are Irish citizens or belong to the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA), and Swiss citizens who have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Sponsorship isn’t required for employees who identify as “settled workers” or have immigration permission to work for your organisation in the UK. Businesses can sponsor employees if the job that they’re going to undertake has a suitable skill and pay level or if they meet the criteria required for their visa.

For instance, your workers will be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of job they’ll be performing and according to the requirement stipulated by the Home Office, the minimum salary will be whichever is the highest out of the following:

£25,600 per year
£10.10 per hour
The “going rate” for the type of jobs the employee will be performing

How to get your Skilled Worker Sponsorship Licence

Securing a Skiller Worker Sponsorship Licence is an essential part of hiring skilled workers from abroad. Employers with the sponsor licence can issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to potential employees and allow them to obtain their visas.

At the point of applying for your sponsor licence, it’s mandatory to provide proof that your company and the available vacancy for which you’re hiring are genuine and that your business is operating legally in the UK.

You must also provide proof that your company complies with all sponsor licence management and reporting requirements in addition to not having any issues with UK immigration control.

Your business must submit the sponsorship licence application to the Home Office with all the supporting documents, including documents such as:

Latest company audit
Tax payments
Employer insurance
Annual reports
Bank statements
VAT certificates
Evidence of rent/ownership or lease of premises
Documents proving registration as an employee with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
Evidence that the sponsor is covered for employer’s liability insurance with a minimum of £5 million

How can a sponsorship platform help?

Many businesses face challenges when hiring employees from outside the UK and having the right platform can ensure a smoother process.

A sponsorship platform can help your business by providing the required guidance and advice on the best countries to recruit from, detailed advice on the sponsorship licence application, visa process, Home Office requirements, and the conditions for employing international talent.

At Nation.better—aside from offering expert guidance—you can also get the assistance you need to stay compliant with Home Office regulations with facilities like regular monitoring of activities, document tracking, and regulatory updates by the Home Office. Businesses can also benefit from:

Getting support to fulfil administrative tasks
Reducing the risks associated with non-compliance
Effective management of documents
Ensuring all changes related to the immigration and sponsorship activities are reported promptly to the Home Office

To get help with obtaining your sponsorship licence, get in touch with our team of immigration experts today.

Solving the skills shortage: What can we do to help?