Fast-growing businesses will receive new support to recruit overseas workers under government plans aimed at helping innovative firms expand and remain in the UK.
The package includes a visa fee reimbursement scheme for scale-ups operating in sectors such as technology, life sciences and clean energy, alongside a new concierge service designed to help high-growth companies overcome barriers to expansion.
Ministers said the measures would help businesses access specialist skills, accelerate growth and create jobs, while strengthening the UK’s ability to compete for international talent.
Visa support targets recruitment challenges
The announcement, made during London Tech Week last week, forms part of a wider government effort to strengthen the UK’s scale-up ecosystem and encourage more high-growth firms to build and expand domestically.
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Under the plans, selected businesses will receive tailored support to help navigate issues such as regulation, procurement, access to finance and talent acquisition. The government will also introduce a visa fee reimbursement scheme for qualifying scale-ups and launch a fast-track referral route for UK Expansion Worker sponsor licences.
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the government wanted Britain to become the best place in the world not only to start a business but also to grow one.
“If we want the next generation of world-changing firms to be built in Britain, we must make Britain the best place in the world not only to start a company but, crucially, to scale one,” he said.
“Britain has the ideas, talent and ambition to lead the world, and this government is backing the businesses that will define our future.”
He added the government was “partnering directly with high-growth firms to give them the support, finance, talent and connections they need to scale here in the UK and create jobs right across the country”.
The government said high-growth firms generated £2.2 trillion in turnover and employed 3.9 million people in 2023 despite representing less than one percent of UK businesses.
Many scale-ups face challenges competing with larger employers for specialist talent, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, life sciences and clean energy. Immigration costs and administrative requirements can also present obstacles for smaller firms seeking to recruit internationally.
Immigration planning remains critical
Fozia Iqbal, a business immigration law expert at commercial law firm Harper James, told HRreview that the announcement reflected the growing importance of immigration planning for ambitious businesses.
“The government’s announcement of a new concierge service and visa fee support for high-growth businesses places immigration in the same conversation as funding, hiring strategy and market expansion,” she said. “That’s essential for scale-ups, who are often competing for the same talent as major international employers, and any support that helps reduce cost and friction around hiring international talent is a step in the right direction.”
She said delays in securing immigration arrangements could hinder growth plans in sectors where competition for skilled workers remained intense.
“In fast-moving sectors, such as technology, life sciences and clean energy, waiting weeks or months to put the right immigration arrangements in place can mean losing out on highly sought-after talent, which can slow expansion plans, reduce momentum or place additional pressure on existing teams.”
The government’s plans come as employers continue to balance skills shortages in key sectors with tighter compliance requirements around overseas recruitment. Businesses sponsoring international workers must meet a range of obligations, including right-to-work checks, record-keeping requirements and reporting duties.
Preparing HR processes for growth
Iqbal said employers should ensure immigration planning forms part of their workforce strategy rather than waiting until a suitable candidate has been identified.
“If hiring international talent is part of your growth strategy, it’s vital that you understand which visa routes may be available, check whether a sponsor licence is needed, and make sure your sponsor duties, right-to-work checks and compliance processes are fit for a business that is scaling quickly.”
She warned that leaving immigration arrangements until late in the recruitment process could create unnecessary delays.
“Leaving these considerations until a candidate has been identified can create avoidable delays at what’s often a critical stage of the growth journey. Businesses that have done the groundwork are simply better placed to move when the right person comes along.”
The government said the new measures build on existing support programmes delivered through organisations including the British Business Bank, the state-owned economic development bank, and Innovate UK, the government’s innovation agency. Ministers said the latest package is intended to help more high-growth businesses scale successfully in the UK rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
