Unlocking potential: fresh ideas to attract fresh talent on the Global Talent visa

Our immigration and visa partner, Kingsley Napley, offer an update on the Tech Nation Visa following the closure of Tech Nation. Read it below or visit their blog for this and other issue updates.

Nearly 10 months have passed since the Home Office put the contract to take over from Tech Nation as the Global Talent digital technology endorsing body out for tender, and we have been waiting for a meaningful update. We suspect that the old adage no news is good news probably doesn’t apply here.

Whilst there remains no sign of a successor to Tech Nation, the details of the tender were updated just recently, extending the deadline to apply, and increasing the estimated total value from £7.5M to £11.68M (excluding VAT). The commencement date has also been brought forward from 1 May 2025 to 18 March 2025. We might be reading too much into it, but we do have to wonder if (a) the Home Office is struggling to find a suitable candidate that is willing and able to take over from Tech Nation and (b) Tech Nation is losing the appetite to continue to May.

The Home Office estimates that around 3,150 customers apply for endorsement in the digital and technology field, and the value of the contract, over the core three-year contract period plus any extensions, is expected to be in the range of £5.7m - £15.4m, with an estimated contract value of £11.68m. Given the current cost of applying for endorsement is £524, and it is not clear what portion goes to the Home Office coffers, could this high estimated value indicate that the Home Office is hoping for an increase in the number of applicants under the Global Talent digital technology route in the future?

When the Home Office does find a suitable successor, there’s no doubt that they will have big shoes to fill. For a decade Tech Nation has helped bring some of the world’s best innovators to the UK, having shaped and promoted the route since the visa was first launched as the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa back in 2014. In that time the route has brought over 5,000 brilliant brains to the UK, and become fundamentally important to our tech sector. In fact, an influx of skilled global talent (helped by increasing levels of investment) has helped fuel a 10 year success story for the UK tech sector, and in 2023 the UK tech sector reached a combined market valuation of more than $1 trillion. That represents an 8x increase in value over the past decade, up from $133 billion in 2014, and an almost 2x increase in value compared with five years ago.

It’s clear that the Global Talent route is of vital importance to bolstering the UK’s tech sector, and will no doubt become more important as the Home Office continues to restrict other visa options for entrepreneurs. While Tech Nation have done a brilliant job, as we approach the age of a new endorsing body we find ourselves thinking about what changes that new endorsing body could make so that the route is optimised to attract the talent that the UK still both wants and needs. As we prepare for a new endorsing body, this marks the start of a series of short blogs will examine just that, and hopefully make some helpful suggestions so that this can truly be a world leading visa route!

Elli Graves

Associate

Applications open for Cybersecurity Bootcamp 2024

Applications are now live for #CybersecurityBootcamp24, Global Tech Connect's new programme for product-led cybersecurity startups offering B2B/enterprise solutions, with existing commercial traction, a demonstrable plan to scale/fundraise in the UK, and a passionate management team fully committed to participate in the virtual and in-market programme.

The Bootcamp is made possible thanks to the early support of partners including BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, Blue Lake VC, Citi, CCL, Cynance, Department for Business and Trade/Global Entrepreneur Programme, Intel Ignite, Kingsley Napley, Level39, Mastercard, and UBS.

#CybersecurityBootcamp2024 content is provided free of charge. To learn more about the programme and to apply visit globaltechconnect.org/cyber24.

Kingsley Napley response to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill announced in the King's Speech

Our immigration and visa partner, Kingsley Napley, offer an update on the Tech Nation Visa following the closure of Tech Nation. Read it below or visit their blog for this and other issue updates.

In today’s King’s Speech we received confirmation of the upcoming Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that the new Government intends to introduce to tackle the ongoing small boat crossings. Echoing their manifesto, the speech confirmed the Government’s intention to strengthen the border with the establishment of a new Border Security Command and enhanced counter terror powers in relation to organised immigration crime. There will also be stronger criminal penalties introduced for organised immigration crime.

There was also a commitment to ‘modernise the asylum and immigration system’. The speech itself included no detail on what this may entail but in the accompanying background notes, the Government confirms their intention to fix the broken asylum system and end hotel use by clearing the asylum backlog, implementing fast track returns for those from safe countries and ending the failed Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda. The Government had already confirmed that they would not be pursuing the Rwanda scheme and it is imperative that they do now work to clear the asylum backlog (which included 95,000 claims awaiting an initial decision at the end of 2023) that built up under the last Government. The reference to ‘fast track’ return schemes does raise concerns and any schemes must comply with our commitments under the Refugee Convention and ensure people’s claims are fairly and properly considered. Failure to do this has correctly led to the end of a fast track system in the past after it was found to be unlawful. To assist in the end of hotel use, it would also be welcome to see asylum seekers given the right to work while their claims are under consideration.

Given the Rwanda scheme will not be proceeding and the Government’s commitment to clear the asylum backlog, we would hope that the Illegal Migration Act will be repealed. As it stands, this Act inhibits the UK from properly considering asylum claims. A truly ‘modern asylum system’ would also feature viable and accessible safe and legal routes to claim asylum for refugees outside the UK. Enabling safe routes to the UK for refugees would undoubtedly lessen the need to rely on dangerous small boat crossings.

The speech didn’t contain any other references to immigration policy and a period of stability may indeed be welcome given the number of changes we have witnessed in recent months and years. However, many of the Government’s other priorities referenced in the speech, including developing Great British Energy and the UK’s renewable energy resources and reducing NHS waiting lists as well as their overall mission to drive economic growth will undoubtedly require the on-going attraction of people to the UK. There remain a number of challenges to those looking to relocate to the UK. Some of these obstacles, such as the UK’s disproportionately high visa fees, could easily be reformed. We wait with interest to see whether, as was discussed ahead of the manifesto publication, the Migration Advisory Committee is asked to review the Skilled Worker salary increases and partner visa minimum income increases.

Finally, there was reference of a reset of our relationship with European partners and we look forward to seeing whether reconsideration of the EU Commission’s proposal to introduce free movement for young people throughout the UK and the EU forms part of this reset.

If you are interested in reading more legal commentary about the impact of the new Labour Government, please see our new Hub.