Given the shortage of skilled workers in the British technology industry, calls are growing for visa restrictions to be relaxed
Companies in the UK technology sector are calling on the Labour government to change visa restrictions introduced under the previous Tory government. Centuro Globalthe company that takes the lead here.
Centuro is taking advantage of the change of government to call on the government to reconsider the “recently imposed restrictions” on the skilled worker visa process. As part of this call, the company will submit a report to the Home Office representing the “critical mass” of companies affected.
These are the restrictions imposed by former Home Secretary James Cleverly. announced end of 2023The changes included an increase in the minimum basic salary for sponsoring a skilled worker visa from £26,200 to £38,700.
According to Centuro, such an increase is in direct conflict with UK growth, as the country’s startups are most at risk from current visa regulations.
“From high-growth startups to global enterprises, the companies we work with tell us about the difficult choice they face: either give up on finding the best talent or pay salaries they cannot afford,” said Centruo.
Centuro CEO Zain Ali added that the new parliament provides the “perfect opportunity” to rethink existing immigration policies to meet both political and economic needs. Centuro is calling on all other businesses to voice their support.
If current visa restrictions remain in place, UK businesses could face a flood of short-term difficulties in attracting talent, with a negative impact on the wider economy.
“Companies will struggle to find the right talent, resulting in longer hiring times and higher recruitment costs. In addition, narrowing the talent pool could drive up salaries, making it difficult for smaller companies and startups to compete,” said Fozia Iqbal, a senior corporate immigration lawyer. ITPro.
Iqbal added that companies could be forced to move jobs overseas, leading to massive job losses, falling tax revenues for the government and a damaged reputation for the UK as an attractive global technology hub.
“Technology is one of the key drivers of the UK’s economic development and restricting access to key talent could be perceived as a barrier to this innovation and the UK’s ability to remain competitive in a global market,” Iqbal said.
The UK technology industry needs a diverse talent pool
As a rapidly changing industry, the technology sector benefits from access to a dynamic workforce that continually adapts to new demands and fills gaps in emerging growth areas.
“The technology industry has historically relied on international talent to fill specialized positions. Fewer visa applications could make it more difficult for companies to find qualified candidates for key roles,” said Riaz Moola, CEO and founder of edtech company HyperionDev. ITPro.
“Companies also benefit from new ideas, which are often supported by a diverse workforce. A decline in foreign talent could lead to a stagnation of new ideas and slow down innovation development,” he added.
Moola said the UK tech industry could “lose its competitive advantage” if it no longer has access to the best talent, and companies could be forced out of the country. He added that the UK could also see a push towards AI and automation as companies try to make up for staff losses.
“If the new government does not make positive changes, the UK could ultimately struggle to maintain its competitive advantage on the world stage. Top tech talent will be more likely to choose a country with an easier immigration system,” said Ashley Stothard, immigration officer at law firm Freeths. ITPro.
