Last week, the newspaper for the engineering industry, reported that Home Office figures showed that 1,171 engineers from non-EU countries entered the UK in 2013/14, up from 859 in 2012/13. It seems that the UK is having to import skilled engineers and figures show that the number of on-EU engineers coming to the Britain has risen by 36% over the past year.
Non-EU Engineers Filling UK Roles
Statistics revealed by the Home Office refer to work permits (i.e. Tier 2 Visas) issued to non-EU engineers filling roles on the Home Office’s Shortage of Occupation List. The list is used for career information to labour market entrants, job matching by employment agencies and the development of government labour market policies.
SJD Accountancy, a contractor services provider to the engineering sector, stated that candidates sponsored by employers on the National Shortage Occupation list can “obtain a work permit under a fast track scheme and occupations include civil, mechanical and electrical engineers.”
SJD further state that many more engineers are “being sourced overseas than those sponsored for jobs on the UK National Shortage Occupation list, which itself is ‘a statistically important measure of demand for engineering skills across the board, as well as for specific areas of high priority’.”
Tier 2 Skilled Migrant Workers Boost UK Economy
We commented last month, on a report published by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) in which they found that skilled foreign workers are responsible for an increase of £21obn a year generated by the UK economy. The report revealed that over the last 10 years the total number of non-UK-born individuals in employment had increased from 2.6 million in the first quarter of 2004 to 4.6 million in the first quarter of 2014.
This led to Jamsheed Poncha, head of client services at Lloyds Bank putting forward his opinion:
“The findings of the research clearly demonstrate the strength of the UK economy and its ability to attract a highly qualified professional workforce from around the world. The contribution inward talent can make to key industries is impressive as it ultimately helps the economy to prosper even more.”
Successful UK Tier 2 Visa Applications
Our team of experienced and professionally qualified immigration solicitors and barristers will be able to guide you through the process of making a Tier 2 General migrant visa application step by step and limit the possibility of failure by complying with the strict letter of law.
We also undertake a great deal of appeal work before the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and have a successful track record of successful results for our clients. We have the experience and the knowledge required to take your case forward successfully. If you have had a Tier 2 General visa refused, contact us to discuss your case so that we can provide you with a case assessment.