India hails new UK ‘scale-up visa’ to help firms hire skilled talent
A BODY representing Indian industry last Thursday (25) welcomed the introduction of the UK’s new ‘scale-up visa’, aimed at attracting skilled professionals from around the world, including India.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) praised a “well timed” announcement by the Home Office to let highgrowth businesses access a worldwide talent pool in order to boost their scale-up ambitions.
It will likely benefit Indian businesses and also help UK companies tap into the vast Indian talent pool, FICCI said.
Companies, including small businesses and those in the tech and financial services sectors that have achieved growth of 20 per cent or more in either employment or turnover yearon-year for at least three years and employed a minimum of 10 people at
the start of those three years, are eligible to sponsor workers under the new route.
“In the past few years, India has seen a large number of rapidly growing businesses from tech and financial services expand into the UK,” said FICCI director-general Arun Chawla.
“The new scale-up visa announcement has come at a good time, with businesses trying to recover post-pandemic and hiring talent that would help them to grow faster. This announcement will give Indian businesses in the UK greater flexibility to hire in-demand talent to progress to the next level.
“It will also help British businesses to tap into the vast talent pool that India has to offer.”
Home Office statistics in recent years have consistently shown Indians ranked as the top nationality for skilled worker visas granted under the Tier 2 category.
Eligible businesses are expected to attract scientists, engineers, programmers, software developers, research and development professionals, economists, architects, technicians, and financial and investment advisers under the new visa, which falls within the country’s wider points-based immigration system.
“Through our scale-up visa, we are enabling businesses to focus on their growth and innovation by giving them more freedom to bring in the diverse skills and experience they need, making them more attractive on an international stage,” said Kevin Foster, the minister for safe and legal migration.
Unlike other sponsored visas, the Home Office said its scale-up visa – launched last week – allows businesses to employ high-skilled individuals who will receive two years’ leave to remain in the UK without requiring further sponsorship or permission beyond the first six months. The new visa route is intended to give businesses in the UK greater flexibility to hire in-demand talent to progress to the next level and boost the UK’s global talent pool.