Except for Irish nationals, all immigrants coming to the UK for work must fulfill a series of criteria for which they will receive points under the points-based immigration system. Those who earn enough points are subsequently given visas.

This system offers flexible options for hiring talented individuals from all over the world via various alternative immigration procedures by UK firms.

You will require a sponsor license to hire the most qualified workers outside the UK. Before applying to sponsor someone's work visa, you should confirm that the positions you plan to fill are eligible for sponsorship.

The new points-based immigration system in the UK places a greater emphasis on attracting "talented" and "highly-skilled" immigrants while limiting the entry of unskilled labor.

This blog introduces the points-based immigration system and outlines the actions that firms should take to change their operations.

Types of points (Mandatory & Tradeable)

Points might be two different types. Applicants must receive a minimum number of mandatory points to apply. Swapping tradeable points will get you to the required 70 points.

The UK Labour Market

The point-based system supports a broader set of initiatives that make up your long-term approach to the labor market and your aim to rebuild your economy, boosting your company's expansion and assisting individuals in finding new employment.

With the points-based system, you have access to individuals and talent from all over the world. It urges firms to look into domestic hiring possibilities in the UK.

Examples:

• Apprenticeships are accessible at all skill levels, from entry-level to master's degree-equivalent, and combine practical on-the-job skills training with ongoing off-the-job learning.
• For 16 to 24-year-olds in danger of long-term unemployment, the Kickstart Scheme offers six-month work assignments in new jobs developed with grant financing from the program. With in-work training to assist them in building transferable skills aimed at enhancing their chances of long-term employment, they spend all of their time at work.
• Sector-based work academy programs (SWAP) hire personnel with the appropriate training and skills from the beginning, created through fully-funded pre-employment training and offering a simple way to see job prospects in action.
• Skills boot camps will support your immediate demands by assisting you in filling crucial gaps in the labor market. These can be found nationwide, including various digital courses, technical instruction in trades like engineering or construction, and green skills like maintaining electric vehicles.

Skilled Worker Route

The bulk of UK occupations that qualify for international hiring fall under the Skilled Worker method, which offers a quick and flexible way to tap into the world's talent pool.

Anyone you intend to hire must exhibit the following to be qualified to work in the UK under the skilled worker route:

• They have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor;
• The job offer is at the required skill level – RQF 3 or above (A Level and equivalent);
• Speak English to the required standard.
• The job offer must meet the applicable minimum salary threshold. This is the higher of either: the general salary threshold of £25,600 or the specific salary requirement for their occupation, known as the “going rate.”
• Applicants can trade characteristics, such as qualifications, against a lower salary to get the required points.

Global Talent Route

The Home Office has given the go-ahead for the Global Talent Pathway, which allows the most highly skilled people who can earn the necessary number of points to join the UK without a work offer.

If a candidate has received an acceptable award, they may also work in the UK on a Global Talent visa. The organizations sponsoring Global Skill have recognized these awards as showcasing remarkable talent.

To hire a migrant through the Global Talent route, you are not required to be a licensed sponsor.

Graduate Route

The Graduate path allows foreign students who have received their degree to remain in the UK for two or three years for doctorate students and work or seek employment at any skill level. It is an unsponsored route. Therefore hiring someone with a Graduate visa does not require a sponsor license.

Graduate visa holders can change employment and advance in their careers as needed. Once they have a position that meets their needs, they can switch to a different visa, such as a skilled worker visa, but they cannot extend their current passport.

Creative Route

This option is available to applicants in the creative sector who are coming to the UK for engagements or short-term contracts that last up to 12 months. Candidates must have a signed job offer and have their work sponsored by a UK company that has been granted Home Office authorization.

Become a Licensed Sponsor

Before applying, make sure the candidates fit the criteria for entering the UK for employment.

When the concerned authority receives your application, the ordinary processing period, typically eight weeks, will begin. You will be able to employ qualified workers from any country in the globe as a licensed sponsor.

Some immigration paths, including Global Talent or Graduate, are "unsponsored." A license is not required to hire workers on an unsponsored visa.

• Before applying, you should ensure that the candidates you hire can work in the UK.
• You cannot obtain a license if you have any pending convictions for crimes related to immigration, fraud, or money laundering.
• Consider the requirement to submit an application to the Home Office for a sponsor license. This is a prerequisite for any company seeking to hire individuals from abroad in the UK. 
• More than 32,000 UK businesses already have sponsor licenses from the Home Office to employ foreign talent. 
• There are no restrictions on the number of employees hired with this license, either EU or non-EU nationalities.