The UK has long relied on foreign labour to keep its economy going. Importing expertise and people power has helped deliver major infrastructure projects, as well as ensuring its businesses remain run by world-leading executives.
But political reality, and a shift in perceptions of immigration, have led to a change in approach. While three-quarters of people surveyed by YouGov believe Britain should allow more or the current amount of high-skilled workers into the country, immigration remains a major concern among the public. To try and head off that worry, home secretary Yvette Cooper has asked for a number of reviews by the Migration Advisory Committee to investigate why some industries rely on foreign-born workers more than others.
In her letter to the chair of the committee, Cooper wrote “Based on a preliminary look at indicators to inform assessments of reliance on international recruitment, as well as occupational groups which are largest users of work visas, we have identified the following occupational groups for this review: Information Technology and Telecommunications Professionals, Engineering Professionals.”
Media reporting has taken the request for a review as a signal that the UK could soon tighten up how many visas in engineering and other high-importing industries it approves.
The potential decision to review the approach to visas has been welcomed, but cautiously, by industry. “The UK government’s efforts to tackle skills shortages by training home-grown engineers and technicians are commendable, but they should not come at the expense of limiting high-skilled overseas recruits,” says Chris Burke, executive director at Morson Projects, the engineering consultancy arm of Morson Group.
Burke points out that overseas recruitment is vital for areas like power transmission, where there is a severe shortage of qualified professionals in the UK. Without filling those gaps with flown-in staff, the country runs the risk of sidelining key parts of the economy it needs to grow, fears Burke. “Major infrastructure projects, such as Hinkley Point C, could face significant delays or increased costs if these roles are not filled,” he says.
And the worry is that those roles could go unfilled with recent changes. “This is an incredibly live issue and can have a material impact on recruitment,” says Kelly Hardman, senior manager at the global immigration advisers Fragomen. She points out that mechanical engineering posts are now subject to a minimum salary requirement of £42,500 for Skilled Worker sponsorship, up from the previous level of £33,000.
Burke welcomes the upcoming review by the independent Migration Advisory Committee, saying it will help understand the challenges employers face in attracting and retaining skilled engineers and technicians. “Companies must actively participate in this review to ensure their needs are addressed before any decisions are finalised,” he says.
The review is also supported by Hardman. “It highlights Labour’s openness to tailoring immigration policies to best matching the needs of the UK’s prominent engineering sector – whilst strengthening the link between immigration and skills policy,” she says.
And rather than the media reporting, which has suggested it will solely signal a crackdown on the number of visas issued for sectors like engineering, Hardman believes that the government is taking a more nuanced approach to things. “Fostering homegrown talent is vital, but the government is showing it is not overlooking the immediate here and now demand that businesses in the UK need to thrive,” she says. “If economic growth is a priority for the government, international talent will be a crucial part of the plan to deliver it.”
Hardman points out that cracking down entirely on international employees would scupper a lot of the hard work needed to rebuild the economy. “The success of many of the government’s key projects will depend on a solution to the skills gap the industry currently faces,” she says. “They must work together with business to shape an immigration system that can help to deliver it.”
But beyond simply waiting for a government-appointed committee to report back, industry ought to be proactive in helping shape that immigration system, Burke says.
Those within the industry need to take ownership over the process themselves. The review is timetabled to take nine months, but such government-commissioned reports can often drag on beyond their projected conclusion date. “To address the skills shortage effectively, we need a dual approach: building a resilient domestic pipeline of engineers and technologists, starting in schools, while continuing to attract the best global talent,” he explains.
By doing so, the sector may be able to tamp down the concern of the government by upping the number of domestic candidates for those engineering jobs – meaning they can be augmented by the international talent the UK has always relied on, and always will. “Limiting opportunities for growth by restricting skilled overseas workers will only exacerbate the current challenges, undermining the UK's ability to compete in critical industries,” says Burke.
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