Latest news with #ImmigrationSkillsCharge
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First Post
4 days ago
- Business
- First Post
UK: Migrants a political problem, Starmer moots $4 bn-plan to upskill 120,000 British workers
PM Starmer has a two-pronged task ahead of him: to boost the indigenous workforce, all while clamping down on migration. Labour Party has announced that the government will increase its English-speaking requirement for overseas workers which will eventually make it harder for migrants to stay in the country read more The UK government has authorised plans to train over 120,000 builders, engineers and care workers to cut down the country's dependence on foreign labour as the Keir Starmer-led government moves to curb immigration. The administration has allocated $4.1 billion to offer new apprenticeships, according to an official release on Tuesday. A 32 per cent hike in the Immigration Skills Charge, a fee paid by employers who sponsor skilled foreign workers, is expected to fund 45,000 additional training spots in sectors like construction and social care, which rely significantly on migrant labour. The government is also supporting initiatives aimed at adult education. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tuesday's statement said a planned 32 per cent rise in the immigration skills charge, designed to dissuade businesses from hiring foreign workers, would deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to 'upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration' in priority sectors. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said, 'We're taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment.' Businesses have said they cannot hire enough staff locally, warning that the tougher rules would harm the economy unless they were accompanied by a fundamental overhaul of the country's skills training system. Britain's PM Starmer has a two-pronged task ahead of him: to boost the indigenous workforce, all while clamping down on migration. His Labour Party has recently announced that the government will increase its English-speaking requirement for overseas workers which will eventually make it harder for migrants to stay in the country. A recent analysis by Boston Consulting Group warned that the UK's supply chains could be strained by the $1.2 trillion in public and private infrastructure investment projected by the end of 2029. The report advised expanding the shortage occupations list to ease recruitment of overseas workers and suggested loosening English language requirements for key visa categories. With inputs from agencies
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
UK unveils £3 billion plan to train 120k workers, cut reliance on migrants
The UK government has unveiled a sweeping £3 billion skills initiative aimed at training 120,000 British workers in key sectors such as construction, engineering, and social care. The plan is part of efforts to reduce reliance on foreign labour while addressing workforce shortages. Announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on Monday (local time), the Labour government's 'skills revolution' includes 30,000 new apprenticeship starts during this Parliament and is backed by a 32 per cent rise in the Immigration Skills Charge, a levy on employers hiring overseas workers. Currently, one in eight people aged 16-24 in England is not in education, employment, or training, the government said. The investment aims to equip domestic workers with essential skills, boost productivity, and lay the foundations for long-term, inclusive economic renewal. This funding is expected to create 45,000 additional training opportunities, particularly in sectors hit hard by post-Brexit labour shortfalls. 'We're backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and thrive,' said Phillipson. 'A skilled workforce is key to a stronger economic future.' Skills England, the national skills body, will coordinate with employers and local leaders to shape future training delivery. From apprenticeships to bootcamps: Key plans The package, part of Labour's broader 'Plan for Change' agenda, includes: A shift in apprenticeship funding away from master's-level training (Level 7) from January 2026 to prioritise lower-level courses. Launch of 13 new Level 2 construction courses under the Free Courses for Jobs scheme. £14 million in devolved adult skills funding for construction, supporting 5,000 adult learners. £136 million for Skills Bootcamps in 2025-26, with training for over 40,000 learners. £100 million over four years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps. Ten new Technical Excellence Colleges in construction, set to open in September 2025. Migration focus: English reforms, tighter residency rules The reforms come as political pressure grows to reduce net migration. Reports suggest Labour is also seeking to counter the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform party while boosting growth and delivering 1.5 million homes. Measures such as stricter English language requirements and tighter residency rules for foreign workers have also been announced in recent weeks. Are training schemes enough? According to Bloomberg, business leaders warn that training schemes alone can't immediately fill workforce gaps. An ageing workforce and the time required to train new workers could create short-term bottlenecks in construction and care. A Boston Consulting Group report recently cautioned that Britain's supply chains could buckle under the £900 billion infrastructure investment planned by 2029 unless migration rules are eased for shortage roles. Migration trends: UK sees sharp decline Net migration to the UK fell by almost half in 2024, dropping from 860,000 in 2023 to 431,000, according to data from the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is the largest annual drop on record, driven by new rules limiting family members on work and study visas and international students leaving the country after Covid-19. The policies were introduced by the Conservative government under Home Secretary James Cleverly, who aimed to reduce overall migration by tightening visa rules for dependents.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Britain to train 120,000 builders, carers to cut reliance on migrants
More than one in five working-age Britons do not have a job and are not seeking one, with the latest official data showing the inactivity rate at 21.4 per cent. PHOTO: REUTERS Britain to train 120,000 builders, carers to cut reliance on migrants LONDON - The UK government plans to train 120,000 British builders, engineers and care workers as it tries to curb migration without worsening skill shortages. Mr Keir Starmer's Labour Party is allocating £3 billion (S$5.22 billion) to deliver 30,000 new apprenticeships by the end of the Parliament, according to an official release on May 27. A 32 per cent increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, a levy on employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers, is set to fund an extra 45,000 training places in sectors such as construction and social care, which depend heavily on foreign workers. The government is also backing programmes for adult learners. 'We're taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment,' Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said. Mr Starmer is trapped between boosting the workforce to deliver on his growth promises and clamping down on migration to fend off the surge of Mr Nigel Farage's populist Reform party. Labour has recently announced it's increasing English-speaking requirements for overseas workers and making it harder for migrants to stay in the country. A recent Boston Consulting Group analysis warned that Britain's supply chains will be overwhelmed by the £900 billion that's set to be injected into public and private infrastructure by the end of 2029. The report recommended expanding the shortage occupations list, making it easier to source overseas staff for these jobs, and relaxing English-speaking requirements for the main visas. The government's ambition to replicate Britain's post war era of building, including the promise to deliver 1.5 million homes, is at the heart of its economic growth plan. However, the construction sector suffers from severe labour shortages due to an ageing domestic workforce and foreign builders shunning the UK after Brexit. Business leaders have warned that the shortfall in skilled workers is too big to be filled by training programs alone, while builders can take years to get qualified, exposing the sector to inflation and logjams in the short term. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
More brickies, carpenters and health staff to be trained up in huge skills boost
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson Labour is 'backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive' More brickies, carpenters and healthcare support workers will be trained up under plans to increase workers' skills and boost career routes. Some 120,000 new opportunities will be created for British young people as ministers drive efforts to end the reliance on overseas workers. Nearly 50,000 training places will be funded by hiking the charge paid by employers for bringing in foreign workers by a third. The apprenticeship budget for 2025-26 is more than £3billion - up from last year's £2.73billion. It is the first time the funding pot has exceeded £3bn. Among measures announced, the Department for Education has pledged £136million for skills bootcamps. The bootcamps take up to 16 weeks to complete, with many offering a qualification at the end or a leg-up onto a career path. Hundreds of different schemes are available for young adults over age 19 across areas including early years, HGV driving and software development. Another £100million has been pledged for over four years to expand bootcamps specifically for construction. Mayors will also be able to support 5,000 additional adult construction trainees, with £14million in skills funding to be handed down to local authorities for the next academic year. Ten technical excellence colleges specialising in construction skills will also open in September. Funding will also be redirected away from masters-level apprenticeships from January(2026) towards training at lower levels, where it can have a bigger impact in supporting youngsters into the workforce. Support will be maintained for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices. Elsewhere ministers will implement a 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), which will deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to 'upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration in priority sectors'. The ISC is a fee that UK employers pay when sponsoring skilled overseas workers under certain visa routes. Increasing it makes it more expensive to hire foreign staff, encouraging businesses to hire British workers. Some one in eight 16-24 year olds are not in employment, education or training. It comes amid a dramatic fall in the number of apprenticeship starts over the last decade. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said 'a skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward'. 'We're backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive,' she said. 'Everyone has a role to play in a thriving economy, and we're taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment, it's now the responsibility of young people to take them.' Sarah Yong, director of policy and public affairs at the Youth Futures Foundation, said: "International evidence shows apprenticeships are a highly impactful way to support young people to prepare for and access jobs, yet participation among under-25s, especially the most marginalised, has declined in recent years. "With stubbornly high youth unemployment and inactivity, rebalancing the apprenticeship system can encourage investment in youth apprenticeships and is a first step in enabling more young people to access good work." The Law Society urged the Government to continue to fund masters-level apprenticeships for those aged over 21. The society's president Richard Atkinson said: "Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships continue to be the only route outside of university to qualify as a solicitor due to specific qualifications set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Apprenticeships play a vital role in promoting social mobility."
Arab Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
UK unveils immigration reforms to cut net migration by 100,000 a year
LONDON, May 13: Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the United Kingdom's immigration system, aiming to reduce net migration by approximately 100,000 annually by 2029. The government's new white paper, titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, outlines several key measures designed to tighten immigration controls and ensure a more selective and fair system. The proposed reforms include: Care Worker Recruitment Ban: The government plans to end the recruitment of overseas care workers by 2028. Employers will be required to hire British nationals or extend the visas of existing foreign workers. This change is expected to reduce the number of care workers coming to the UK by 7,000 to 8,000 annually. Skilled Worker Visa Reforms: The qualification requirements for skilled worker visas will be raised to degree-level, reversing previous reductions. This adjustment is anticipated to make approximately 180 job roles ineligible for the visa route. However, lower qualification thresholds will remain for sectors facing long-term shortages or those critical to the government's industrial strategy.n Increased Employer Charges: The Immigration Skills Charge will rise by 32%, with smaller firms paying up to £2,400 and larger firms up to £6,600 to sponsor foreign workers.n International Student Measures: The post-study visa duration for international students will be reduced from two years to 18 months. Additionally, a 6% levy on income from international students will be introduced, with proceeds directed towards skills training. Colleges must also meet stricter thresholds, with at least 95% of international students expected to start their courses and 90% expected to complete them. Extended Residency Requirement for Citizenship: The time required to live in the UK before applying for settled status will double from five to ten years. A fast-track system will be established for "high-skilled, high-contributing" individuals. Refugee Employment Restrictions: A "limited pool" of refugees and displaced individuals recognized by the United Nations will be eligible to apply for jobs through existing skilled-worker routes.n Stricter Enforcement and Legal Reforms: The government will explore changes to the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in immigration cases, aiming to streamline deportations. Enforcement measures will be strengthened to ensure compliance. Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that these measures are necessary to address the challenges posed by high levels of immigration. He stated, "Without stronger rules on immigration and integration, the UK risks becoming an island of strangers." He also dismissed claims that the reforms were a response to the electoral success of Reform UK, asserting, "I'm doing this because it is right, because it is fair and because it is what I believe in." Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the government's approach, stating, "This is nowhere near the scale of the change we need to see." The Liberal Democrats called for a clear plan to make it easier to recruit British workers to fill vacancies. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage argued that Labour's changes were a response to the rise of his party at the local elections. The Green Party denounced the proposals as a "panicked and misguided" attempt to win back Reform voters.
