UK Plans Introduction Of New Visa System

The United Kingdom is planning changes to it's Visa regulations in an effort to make it easier at a time when there is a large skills shortage and a lack of HGV drivers who help transport different goods in to the country. Many people may have noticed dwindling supplies of their favourite items in the shops which is due to a lack of available drivers who can move things around. They plan to introduce a number of different options to help companies survive during a time when cases of Covid 19 are beginning to rise again and different companies are having difficulty in employing the right staff that they need to help transport goods to and from different locations. This includes Scale Up Visas. However this should not be seen as a silver bullet which will solve all existing problems.That is according to global leader in talent acquisition and managed workforce solutions, Guidant Global.

Following Chancellor Rishi Sunak's latest budget and spending review, which outlined the different things the government will be introducing to lure more drivers in to the proffession from outside the UK, Guidant has warned businesses that these measures alone will not be enough to solve the shortages of staff they may have and more things will need to be done which may include improvements to the legislation which will protect the rights and conditions that drivers have to endure when doing their job.

In its recent report, Talent shortages: the state of the UK labour market, the talent acquisition expert revealed the key steps and measures that companies need to take in the current climate. This can unclude removing elements around the fear surrounding engaging different contacters post IR35. This will help diversify current talent pools making them bigger so there is a much wider variety of talent and employees to choose from for different jobs.

As Simon Blockley, CEO of Guidant Global, explained, implementing these actions will help develop longer-term, truly future proof workforce management strategies:

"The impact of the skills shortages across the country has become increasingly evident in recent months, with the fuel crisis and a shortage of stocks in supermarkets making the issue headline news. While Brexit certainly impacted the available resources in the UK workforce, it isn't the only driver of this issue. The Great Resignation, a fear of getting Off-Payroll determinations wrong and an exodus of talent from those sectors that shut down during the pandemic are just a few of the other elements that are exacerbating the dearth of talent.

"For employers that are looking to ensure their business is in the best possible position to continuing on the upward trajectory that so many are experiencing at the moment, a more holistic view of how to battle the skills shortage is needed. Plans to make working in the UK more attractive to international talent will help, but shouldn't be viewed as a standalone solution.

"We're at a critical pivot point in the war for skills, and those that are able to broaden the scope of their talent pools will be better placed to adjust in line with the economy and develop an agile workforce that supports effective business growth."

You can stay for 2 years if you either:

come to the UK on a Start-up visa

switch to this visa from another visa while in the UK

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot apply to extend this visa.

You may be able to switch to an Innovator visa if you set up a business while on a Start-up visa and:

your endorsing body assessed and agreed it

it is active, trading and sustainable

you have day to day involvement in it

If a driver's endorsement is withdrawn, they must reapply for a new one before their current visa expires. People can only stay for a maximum of two years, even if they are granted a new visa with an endorsement.

If you'd like to find out more information on the UK's new Visa system, please visit Start-up visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)