Friends across the world and those employed in the UK often ask OR are asked the same question.
Four recurring questions follow this first one:-
1. What jobs are hard to fill in the UK -what skills are in short or dwindling supply?
2. How can someone from outside the UK make an assessment of their suitability for these jobs, matched against their own skills, abilities, knowledge and experience?
3. What is the latest information on immigration law with citizenship and visa applications?
4. What are the likely UK job prospects in the future especially with Brexit?
A number of reference points, some tangible, others more speculative can be drawn upon to provide both generic and tailored answers to these four questions:-
There is a UK Home Office list, updated on a regular basis which profiles key occupational shortages and has an on-line assessment to help you or the people you are helping make an informed and legal decision. There are other organisations who provide these free assessments. Check the Home Office site first.
See the link at the tail of this blog for the Home Office link and then a link to another site for an organisation called Visa Bureau.
This week the UK Government are going to start publishing a series of economic and other impact assessments in the event that there is a NO Brexit deal. These impact assessments should throw a spotlight on key occupational shortages that may occur. And in terms of some known “no deal” Brexit impacts now, the indications are as that as Brexit comes closer, skilled Europeans in certain occupations are already leaving the UK and returning home bringing further forecasted shortages in agricultural, engineering, healthcare and IT sectors. There may be others.
On other fronts, the UK government is discussing with non-European countries the possibility of new trade deals which might open a further gateway to help fill skill gaps. The “no Brexit deal” impact assessments for higher education may also give us some forecasts about the flow of overseas students to the UK from Europe and beyond.
On a related higher education jobs front, a new ‘UKRI Science, Research and Academia’ scheme, allowing non-EEA researchers, scientists and academics to come to the UK for up to 2 years, opened last month. It is being added to the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange (GAE)) visa route. It will mean that 12 approved research organisations, such as the Natural History Museum, are able to directly sponsor highly skilled individuals, such as specialist technicians, to work and train in the UK.
The new UK business visa regulations which come in next year bringing more flexibility for non-Europeans wanting to set up enterprises here is a further sign that the landscape may change further bringing new UK jobs for people from outside the country
My advice to those who ask me and those I train is to keep an eye on this changing landscape. And the links below are a useful compass to help you navigate this emerging new world!
I have also prepared a free toolkit setting out some basic UK citizenship information and a template for a CV and speculative letter. Get in touch if you want a copy or indeed if you have any other experiences or ideas to share
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-k-shortage-occupation-list
http://www.visabureau.com/uk/shortage-occupations-list.aspx
