UK prime minister Keir Starmer is considering abolishing visa fees for world-leading scientists, academics and digital experts, the Financial Times reported yesterday (22 September).
Under the proposals, people who have studied at the world’s top five universities or received prestigious international awards could be eligible for visas at no cost, the newspaper reported.
The initiative is reportedly being developed by Starmer’s global talent task force as part of efforts to attract highly skilled professionals to the UK, and boost economic growth.
To better understand what this could mean for hiring and retaining talent, we asked commentators how businesses might be affected by the scrapping of global talent visas.
David Curtis, senior managing director of STEM at recruitment and HR service provider Hays UK&I, told HR magazine: “For HR leaders, this could open up access to a broader, more diverse pool of expertise that can drive innovation and growth.”
Curtis explained that if the global talent visa were to become cheaper, it would make hiring from abroad easier and strengthen the “UK’s position as a destination of choice for the world’s best talent”.
Speaking to HR magazine, Alana Penkethman, senior associate in employment at law firm Trethowans, explained that “rethinking existing immigration pathways could widen talent pools and enhance workforce diversity”, adding that this would be good for organisational growth.
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