United Kingdom: Government Publishes Industrial Strategy Paper, Emphasizing Need for Growth in Priority Sectors

The government outlines a 10-year national growth plan (aka “Invest 2035”), guided by five core principles:

• Targeting investment in eight high-growth sectors where the United Kingdom has or can build a global advantage;
• Promoting regional development through clusters and devolved delivery;
• Shifting to long-term, coordinated government planning;
• Aligning workforce and immigration policy with economic strategy; and
• Fostering lasting public–private partnerships.

These principles underpin the strategy’s approach to regulation, funding, and talent, and are key to understanding how immigration access in the United Kingdom is being shaped by industrial policy.

Of specific note is the centrality of talent mobility to that plan, which informs how advocacy for immigration access must be framed going forward.  

The strategy explicitly commits to using a reformed visa system, led by a new ‘Global Talent Taskforce’ (a team set up to lead sector visa reform strategy) to attract international talent to priority growth sectors and underpin innovation across the economy.

This shift is directly aligned with the recent Immigration White Paper, which sets out reforms to key visa routes:

• Expansion of the Global Talent and High Potential Individual visas;
• A review of the Innovator Founder visa to better support UK-based spinouts; and
• The creation of a new Temporary Shortage List that will limit eligible Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)–5 roles to those deemed crucial to the Industrial Strategy and supported by credible UK workforce plans.

As the paper confirms that immigration access will be structured around the needs of eight priority growth sectors, employers must understand their place within the framework if they wish to retain or expand access to international talent.

Businesses will be expected to engage in evidence gathering and workforce planning to make the case for eligibility of access to overseas pipelines. Furthermore, visa planning, workforce strategy and engagement with government must now align with national economic priorities.

Practically, access to the Skilled Worker route for many roles (in particular, those requiring below degree-level qualification) will depend on whether a business is aligned with the Industrial Strategy and whether it can demonstrate why specific occupations should remain eligible.

The government strategy for the remaining sectors (Life Sciences, Defence and Financial Services) is expected to be published later this year. We will publish on related developments.