Pilot Program for Displaced Talent to be Launched
July 21, 2021
At a Glance
- The UK Home Secretary has announced that a pilot will be launched for displaced talent mobility which will adapt the United Kingdom’s existing work permit rules to facilitate applications from skilled refugees and displaced foreign nationals.
- The pilot will remove the documentary requirements and administrative processes from the existing Skilled Worker rules which can inadvertently discriminate against displaced people.
- While the initial pilot is limited to 100 applications, the model should open a new labour market to UK employers and normalise displaced talent mobility.
The situation
The UK Home Secretary has announced that a pilot will be launched for displaced talent mobility which will adapt the United Kingdom’s existing work permit rules to facilitate applications from skilled refugees and displaced foreign nationals.
A closer look
The Skilled Worker is one of the United Kingdom’s main work permit routes. It allows employers with sponsor licences to bring workers to the United Kingdom to undertake skilled jobs, subject to requirements such a minimum salary level, English Language proficiency and good character.
Background
The pilot was championed by Talent Beyond Boundaries with whom Fragomen worked on the concept.
Impact
The pilot will remove the documentary requirements and administrative processes from the existing Skilled Worker rules which can inadvertently discriminate against displaced people.
It is important to note that the existing eligibility criteria will not be lowered, just refined to enable applications from this particular group.
While the initial pilot is limited to 100 applications, the model should open a new labour market to UK employers and normalise displaced talent mobility.
Looking ahead
Fragomen will hold a client webinar with Talent Beyond Boundaries later this year, details will follow.
Those clients interested in participating in the pilot should contact their UK case team for more details.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].