Yes, hiring overseas workers is a great idea. But how do you do it effectively?

For some businesses, local, domestic workers aren’t available. Either the market is too tight, or the skill set is something that you can only find in other countries. In each case, your only option is to reach out and look abroad. 

But how do you engage in this process of hiring overseas workers successfully? That’s what we investigate in this post. 

Start your planning early

When it comes to hiring overseas workers and bringing them to the UK, it pays to begin planning as early as you can. Many companies front-load applications to the beginning of the financial year, around April time, to get ahead of the crowd. That’s because the chances of a successful application tend to be higher when the country is still some distance from its worker Tier 2 visa quota. 

Consider the salary you offer

In the past, the salary you had to offer a migrant was just above the average for the entire country. However, because of competition for a limited number of slots, the amount that employers are having to pay is going up and up. Currently, salaries are in the £50,000+ range, which is considerably higher than the national average. 

Using a salary range allows you to bump up the total pay packet you’re offering should the competition get tough. The higher you allow the upper end to go, the more likely you are to secure a worker for your enterprise. 

Check alternative routes

There are other routes for getting workers in the country, besides the mainstream channels. For instance, you might be able to use a spouse visa if the person you want to hire is already married to somebody in the country. This way, they can begin their journey towards full citizenship. 

You can also look and see whether EEA member citizens have any ancestry they can link back to the UK. If they do, then, again, it enhances their chances of being accepted into the country. You can also attempt to get them on a Tier 5 visa if they are below a certain age range, allowing them to work in the country for up to two years under certain conditions. 

Find out if you can upskill

Sometimes, hiring from overseas can seem like the only option, especially if you need a certain skill immediately. But actually getting the person you want is often considerably more challenging than you imagine. 

At this point, therefore, it’s worth looking inside your business to see whether you can upskill people who already work for you. There are often people in the organisation who can perform the task you need the imported worker to fulfil – at least temporarily. 

Be cautious

The market for migrant labour is changing significantly and becoming more competitive. At the moment, the market is signalling worker scarcity. Companies would love to hire more people from abroad, but current caps on migration are making that impossible. It’s worth, therefore, being cautious. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where you’re relying on people coming into the country. Ideally, it should be a bonus if their applications are successful.