RECRUITMENT
Teesside recruit - Muckle partner Chris Maddock has welcomed solicitor Imaan Choudry into the firm ’ s Business Immigration team .
World of work
Muckle offer support to bring in skilled overseas staff
With skilled worker shortages being experienced across the region , local law firm for business Muckle LLP is expanding its Business Immigration team to meet increasing demand for support in recruiting into the region from outside the UK .
Recruiting skilled workers is critical to the region ’ s growth , but UK firms currently face some of the highest recruitment difficulties on record . Research by the British Chambers of Commerce ( BCC ) found that 79 per cent of businesses surveyed ( 92 per cent of whom are SMEs ) attempting to recruit have faced challenges . This trend has been exacerbated by the UK ’ s departure from the EU . Since then , the demand for overseas skilled workers has increased as businesses look outside the UK to fill the gap .
The Home Office issues sponsor licences which grant an organisation permission to employ non-settled workers . By sponsoring an individual , you enable them to obtain a UK visa , granting them the ability to enter or remain in the UK for employment in the sponsored role .
Government stats ending in March 2023 show more than 69,000 skilled worker visas were granted in 2023 – a 59 per cent increase on the previous year . In order for these visas to be granted , the recipient of the visa must be hired by a UK company with a sponsor licence , of which there were more than 7,091 granted in the same period .
Muckle is expanding its already established Business Immigration team to meet demand .
Teesside-based solicitor Imaan Choudry joins the firm ’ s employment team , ready to support businesses in the Tees Valley to broaden their recruitment pool . Her experience includes advising on employing migrant workers , sponsor licence applications , sponsor obligations , right-to-work checks and audits .
Imaan said : “ The Tees Valley is seeing amazing investment and growth , but that growth needs to be supported by a steady stream of qualified , skilled workers . Many businesses are likely to benefit from recruiting new talent from outside the UK , and we want to help make the process as simple as possible .
“ I ’ m excited about the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience to help my clients with any employment challenges they are facing .”
Chris Maddock , partner and head of the employment team , said : “ We ’ re delighted to welcome Imaan to the firm . Her appointment strengthens our employment team and diversifies our business immigration capabilities . Imaan is already proving to be a great fit for the team and I am looking forward to working alongside her and seeing her progress in her career here at Muckle .”
Imaan is urging all businesses to consider their future recruitment needs and plans now to get ahead of the game . She said : “ Access to a skilled workforce is a major concern for businesses across the Tees Valley and the UK as a whole . There continues to be a number of unfilled , skilled worker vacancies across the region and the worst-case scenario is that firms have to start turning down work .
“ Our clients are finding that holding a sponsor licence has been key to their business growth , opening up new opportunities and increasing diversity . With the costs and complexities associated with obtaining a visa , they ’ re finding these employees are less likely to change jobs .
“ However , acquiring a sponsor licence can be a challenging process . There are various options available and getting the application right first time can be business critical . It ’ s essential you seek professional advice to ensure you ’ re meeting the unique employment needs of your business .
“ Businesses don ’ t need to have a candidate or even a position in mind before applying for a licence . Having one in place is a great way of ensuring agility so you can respond quickly if a recruitment need arises .”
In a congested recruitment market , a skilled worker licence can potentially offer you access to highly-skilled candidates looking for a challenging role in the UK . If you ’ d like to speak to someone about your options , visit muckle-llp . com
The voice of business in the Tees region | 103