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How can the Construction Industry get a hold of Talent from Abroad

How can the Construction Industry get a hold of Talent from Abroad?

MAC stated that the UK is facing a manpower shortage in the construction industry. Dynamic Staffing Services explains the necessary steps construction employers can take to hire overseas workers. 

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) examined the manpower shortages in the construction industry and released these findings in March 2023. The Home Office adopted a set of suggestions included in the report.

By supporting foreign workers to come to the UK, the review aims to make it simpler for construction companies to find labor abroad. Because of the strategic importance of construction employment to the UK economy and evidence of sector-wide attempts to increase recruitment and retention over the long term, MAC made clear why immigration is thought to be a viable short-term solution for shortages. 

Nevertheless, the data reveals a very low uptake of sponsored visas for construction jobs, partly because many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) haven’t yet decided to become registered sponsors. 

It is hoped that more construction businesses will be able to tap into the vast pool of foreign talent to fill gaps of the shapes and sizes in their organizations, given that industry experts anticipated growth in 2024 and point to labor shortages as one of the major risks construction companies will face. 

Additional Read: The Departure of More than 500,000 Workers Put the UK Economy in Danger

Sponsoring Under the Point-Based System

The points-based system in the UK enables companies to sponsor as many qualified foreign workers as they require. To issue Certificates of Sponsorship to individuals who qualify for a Skilled worker visa, the employer must first apply for a sponsor license. Once granted the license, the worker applies for a visa in their country of residence, typically processed in one to three weeks. 

Obtaining a sponsor license for the most reputable construction companies should be possible. You need to submit an online application form and include some specific corporate documents, such as evidence of PAYE and VAT registration, a copy of a lease, corporate bank statements, and an employer’s liability certificate. Typically, applications are processed in eight weeks, with alternatives for expedited processing. 

You should be aware that you will be required to follow continuing compliance requirements established by the Home Office after you possess a sponsor license. Sponsors are expected to be in charge of guaranteeing equitable treatment of immigrants and preventing systematic abuse. 

Company-level changes, including a change of address or key people, will require notification to the Home Office. Additionally, there will be changes at the employee level to report, such as a sponsored employee getting a promotion or changing jobs. 

To avoid Home Office sanctions, it is critical to have a plan in place from the beginning. In the event that responsibilities are not adequately met, a sponsor license may be suspended or canceled. 

Occupations that are Facing Labour Shortage in Construction Industry 

According to the MAC’s recommendations, the following positions will be included on the Home Office’s official shortage occupation list as of summer 2023 to facilitate the construction business’s ability to sponsor skilled workers: 

  • Bricklayers, Masons
  • Roofing Contractors, Slaters and Tilers
  • Woodworkers and Joiners
  • Plasterers
  • Any unclassified members of the construction and building trades.

While there won’t be a quick fix for the industry if employees sponsor foreign nationals for 

these positions must pay the discounted three-year application cost of £464 rather than the standard £610. 

Also read, The Market for Corporate Recruitment Process Outsourcing to Witness Massive Growth by 2022–2028

Future Vision

It will be interesting to see if easier sponsorship access can help the building industry’s recruitment issues. There is a chance that many companies, especially SMEs, may be wary of the administrative hassles and overall expenses involved in obtaining and keeping a sponsor license. 

It seems unlikely that the UK’s immigration policies will alter significantly in the near future, and it is especially improbable that the government will restrict opportunities for overseas employment in the construction sector, notwithstanding reports of record-high net migration numbers. 

The government must assess the competing factors that shape its policy, comparing political and possibly arbitrary immigration goals against economic growth and, of course, its own construction goals.

We hope this blog has helped you understand how to hire overseas construction workers to fill the gap and how the construction industry can get talent from overseas. 

We at Dynamic Staffing Services can help you combat the shortage of skilled labor by providing you with the industry’s best talents. Contact us today at +44-7477196844 or email enquiry@dss-hr.co.uk for a quick discussion about our services. Follow the most recent trends, news, and job updates by subscribing to our newsletter. 

Do you need to hire more people more quickly? Visit our website today: Dynamic Staffing Services!

About the Company

Headquartered in Dubai, with offices in 13 countries spread across UK, Europe, Middle East and South Asia, Dynamic Staffing Services is an industry leader within its niche space of international recruitment. Over the last 45 years, DSS has successfully places over 450 000 candidates in the engineering, healthcare, hospitality, IT and manufacturing sector. Please visit us as www.dss-hr.com to learn more about us. We pride ourselves in being an ethical recruitment services provider following the stringiest regulations towards code of conduct. We recruit talent from Eastern Europe, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Africa, Egypt, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia among other nationalities and place them into 24+ countries. Each year we give jobs to about 12 000 candidates.

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