Sponsor Licence and Visas to Hire Overseas Engineering Talent

Obtain a Skilled Worker Sponsored License

The Skilled Worker Sponsored Licence serves as a gateway for businesses to legally onboard international professionals, ensuring they have the right expertise to drive their projects forward.

Check the Eligibility Requirements of a Sponsor Licence

For a UK business to bring in overseas engineering and manufacturing professionals, they must first meet specific eligibility criteria set by the UKVI ( UK Visas and Immigration ):

• The organisation must be genuine, operational, and lawfully trading within the UK.
• The business should have its primary operations and base within the UK.
• The organisation must not pose any threat to immigration control. This means they should have a clean record with no unspent convictions related to immigration offences, money laundering, fraud, or similar crimes.
• Businesses that have had a sponsor licence revoked in the past year are ineligible.
• The organisation must have trustworthy individuals who will oversee the sponsorship process, ensuring it’s carried out correctly and ethically.
• The business must adhere to the compliance requirements set for sponsor licence holders.

Implement Necessary Processes and Systems:

To meet the sponsor compliance requirements, businesses should:

• This system should allow the organisation to keep accurate and up-to-date records on all sponsored engineering and manufacturing professionals.
• There should be processes in place to ensure that only qualified and suitable foreign engineering and manufacturing professionals are given a Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Any significant changes, like a sponsored worker not showing up for their first workday or leaving the organisation, should be reported to the Home Office promptly.
• Ensure that the overseas engineering and manufacturing professionals are hired for suitable roles and are paid appropriately. The minimum salary requirement for Skilled Worker visas is £41,700 per annum or the ‘going rate’.
• Choose the right personnel for roles like the Authorising Officer, Key Contact, Level 1 User, and Level 2 User for the UKVI Sponsor Management System (SMS).

Application Process for the Sponsor Licence:

To secure the licence:

• Access the official UK government website and complete the Sponsor Licence application form to start the process of hiring overseas engineering and manufacturing professionals.
• Depending on your business’s size and nature, pay the sponsor licence fee of either £574 or £1,579.
• After the online application, submit the specific sheet provided to the UKVI detailing your intent to hire international engineering and manufacturing talent.
• Provide essential documents to the UKVI, showcasing your business’s genuine engagement in engineering or manufacturing and the need for global expertise.
• A UKVI compliance officer may visit your premises to verify your readiness to uphold sponsor licence duties.
• While the usual processing time is up to 8 weeks, an expedited decision is available within 10 working days for an additional fee of £500.

Next Steps: Once The Sponsor Licence Is Approved

Upon securing your Sponsor Licence, the next phase is to utilise the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). This digital platform is important for UK businesses, especially in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, to manage their sponsored overseas talent. It’s not just a tool but a commitment to UK immigration rules, ensuring businesses can monitor, report, and manage all aspects of sponsorship.

To get started with the SMS:

• Head to the UKVI website and register on the SMS portal using your unique sponsor licence number.
• Once inside, you’ll be greeted with a dashboard. This is your central hub for all sponsorship activities, from issuing certificates to reporting changes.
• It’s crucial to set up accounts for your key personnel. These are the individuals who’ll be overseeing the sponsorship process, ensuring everything runs smoothly and compliantly.

Now, let’s explore some of the SMS’s core functionalities:

• Before you can bring an overseas engineer or manufacturer on board, you’ll need to issue them a Certificate of Sponsorship through the SMS. Please think of this as your official stamp of approval, signalling your intent to employ them.
• The SMS is for more than just onboarding. It’s also for oversight. If there are any significant changes in your sponsored worker’s status, you’ll need to report it here. Moreover, it provides a consolidated view of all your sponsored workers, ensuring you always have the latest information at your fingertips.

Here are a few tips for effective SMS use:

• Keep all worker details up-to-date. It’s not just good practice; it’s a requirement.
• The world of UK immigration is ever-evolving. Ensure you’re always in the loop about any changes to the SMS or broader immigration rules.
• Make the most of the system’s built-in alerts. They’re there to keep you on track, reminding you of important dates or tasks.

Issuing Certificates of Sponsorship

With your Sponsor Licence in hand and the SMS at your disposal, you’re ready to start issuing Certificates of Sponsorship. Here’s how:

• Log into the SMS and find the ‘Issue Certificate’ section.
• Input all the necessary details about your prospective hire. This includes their qualifications, the role they’re being hired for, and their salary.
• Once everything’s filled in, please give it a once-over for accuracy, then hit submit.

But before you can issue a certificate, there are a few boxes to tick:

• The role must be a genuine fit within the engineering or manufacturing sectors.
• The individual should have the necessary skills and qualifications for the role.
• Their salary should be in line with UK standards for their position.

When it comes to documentation:

• Have a formal job offer or contract at the ready.
• Gather evidence of their qualifications and experience. This could be degree certificates, professional certifications, or a CV.
• Always be prepared with any additional documentation the UKVI might request. This ensures you’re aware of the hiring process and can expedite the hiring process.

Engineering and Manufacturing Roles Criteria

The UK’s engineering and manufacturing sectors are vast, encompassing a range of roles. However, not all are eligible for sponsorship. Here’s a closer look:

• The role should be in demand within the UK, requiring skills or qualifications that might be lacking locally.
• Depending on the role, this could range from specific engineering degrees to certifications in manufacturing processes or even hands-on experience in certain areas.

Here are a few examples of roles that typically cut:

• Mechanical Engineers are essential for designing machinery or HVAC systems.
• Production Managers in Manufacturing, overseeing the production line, ensuring everything runs seamlessly.
• Electrical engineers are skilled professionals responsible for designing and developing electrical systems and circuits.
• Quality Assurance Engineers, ensuring products meet the necessary standards.
• Manufacturing Process Engineers, experts in streamlining and optimising manufacturing processes.

The UK Immigration Salary List

The UK Immigration Salary List (formerly known as the Shortage Occupations List) serves as a guide to roles that are critically needed within the UK but need more local talent. This list is periodically updated to mirror the evolving needs of the UK job market.

For overseas professionals, roles on this list come with distinct advantages:

• Visa applications for these roles typically experience faster processing.
• The standard visa requirements might be relaxed, making the application process smoother for international candidates.

Within the engineering industries and manufacturing sectors, several roles may feature on the Immigration Salary List, which may make it easier for individuals in certain professions to immigrate to the UK. However, the list is updated on a regular basis, which means it’s important to check it frequently to keep abreast of latest developments in response to changing labour requirements.

Salary Criteria for Skilled Workers

For those aspiring to obtain a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, it’s essential to be aware of the salary benchmarks. The minimum required salary for this visa is £41,700 per annum.

However, certain roles have a designated “going rate” that exceeds this baseline, representing the average compensation for that profession. The Home Office circulates a list of these rates, and for roles on this list, the proposed salary should match or surpass the specified “going rate”.

There are specific exceptions to this rule:

• Roles identified in the Immigration Salary List.
• Candidates below 26 years, students, recent graduates, or those in professional training.
• Individuals with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Maths) PhD that aligns with their job role.
• Individuals with a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.

Are There Other Routes To Hire Engineering And Manufacturing Staff?

While the Skilled Worker Visa is a popular route, there are other avenues to bring in overseas talent in the engineering and manufacturing sectors:

Youth Mobility Scheme

This scheme allows young individuals (usually aged 18-30) from certain countries to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. It can be a way to bring in fresh talent, especially for entry-level roles or internships.

Global Talent Visa

In the sciences, engineering, humanities, and related fields, individuals with exceptional talent or promise are eligible for this program. This visa route recognises global leaders or potential leaders in their respective fields and offers a pathway to work in the UK.

How Can IAS Help?

The Immigration Advice Service can help make hiring from overseas easier for your business. We know all about UK immigration rules and can guide you through them.

When you want to hire someone from another country, there are lots of UK visa rules to follow. IAS can give you clear advice on these rules and help you make sure you’re following them. This means you can hire the right people without worrying about making mistakes with immigration laws.

If you have any questions or need help, you can call IAS on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or email us. We’re here to help you hire the people you need and keep everything legal.