What is the new Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship License?
In August 2022 post Brexit changes on how we employee immigrant workers changed to a new system where the employer now obtains from the Home Office a Sponsorship License. Once the license is granted the employer manages their employees via the SMS home office management system, issuing certificates of sponsorship to all skilled immigrant workers who do not have a ‘settled’ status. The idea of the new system is that it puts the employer in control of its own applications allowing the process to be quicker and easier than ever before. Sounds like a great move from a processing point of view, but why would a company want to sponsor a skilled worker to come and work in the UK from abroad inn the first place?
Advantages to becoming Skilled worker Visa Sponsorship License holder:
- Skilled workers on a visa who have been through this system are committed long term to the employer, they are far less likely to move jobs, helping with employee turnover.
- Holding a license gives the employer a larger pool of candidates who are suitably qualified to choose from. This can help to address skilled labour shortages where within UK job markets such skills are in short supply.
- Increased diversity within the organization
- Cost effective recruitment.
- Helps with continuity of operations.
- Is synonymous with ensuring the company is up to date with workplace laws and regulations and adopts best practice HR policies.
- Helps retain ‘top talent.’
- Competitive edge
So, what are the disadvantages of becoming a skilled worker Visa Sponsorship License Holder?
- For a skilled worker you are essentially looking at graduate level vacancies upwards and genuine suitable qualified recognized occupation vacancies as identified on the home office website. Organisations need to meet these criteria.
- Failure to meet your sponsorship duties adequately can attract large penalty fines from the home office.
- Failure to meet your sponsorship duties adequately can result in your foreign workers not working lawfully for you. This could result in immediate deportation of your workers and a bad reputation as an employer.
- You need sufficient HR resources to meet all the obligations of the license and a robust HR system to carry out all of the necessary checks.
- You can have your license revoked at anytime should you be found to not be meeting your obligations as a result of ad hoc HR audits.
- There are financial implications to obtaining the license and issuing the certificate of sponsorships although it is widely acknowledged to secure the right candidate and have them in a long-term position outweighs any financial investment.
- Applying for a License is onerous and complicated on top of the day job.
This is where Business Synergy can help! We currently helping a number of our clients through the Visa Sponsorship application process. This can be as much or as little help as you need to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Whether it be help with the preparation of your HR team processes and procedures, making or supporting the team through the application or actually assisting by taking a on key role within the license where small HR teams need an extra practical pair of hands to keep the system maintained and up to date.
If you are thinking your organisation may benefit from becoming an employer with able to operate a Visa Sponsorship License contact Business Synergy for more information on how we can assist you with getting this project off the ground and help you create the workforce you need.