The art of the perfect fit

Employing International workers after Brexit

Posted by Emma Restall in News · January 2021

The UK art world has long enjoyed and benefited from its’ international workforce. Now that the BREXIT process is complete, many employers are left wondering if a skills gap will emerge and if so, how they can engage talent from outside the UK.

Free movement with the European Union (EU) ended on 31 December 2020 and there are new arrangements for EU citizens.

For EU employees who arrive to live and work in the UK after 1st January 2021, a visa will be required under the UK Government’s new points-based immigration system. These employees will be able to provide their employer with a ‘check code’ for an online system to prove their immigration and visa status as part of a Right to Work check – and the visa itself will only be issued to skilled workers who have a job offer from an approved employer sponsor.

The new UK’s points-based system treats EU and non-EU citizens equally and aims to attract people who can contribute to the UK’s economy. Irish citizens can continue to freely enter, live and work in the UK.

Skilled workers

The points-based system includes a route for skilled workers who have a job offer from an approved employer sponsor. If you’re not already a licensed sponsor and you think you’ll want to sponsor migrants through the skilled worker route, you should apply now https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers

The job offered will need to be at a required skill level of RQF3 or above (equivalent to A level). The employee will also need to be able to speak English and be paid the relevant salary threshold. This will either be the general salary threshold of £25,600 or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher.

If employees earn less than this – but no less than £20,480 – you may still be able to apply by ‘trading’ points on specific characteristics against salary. For example, if they have a job offer in a shortage occupation or have a PhD relevant to the job.

There is no general route for employers to recruit at or near the minimum wage.

Global talent scheme

The global talent scheme has been opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. It allows highly skilled scientists and researchers to come to the UK without a job offer.

International Graduates

A new graduate immigration route will be available to international students who have completed a degree in the UK from summer 2021. Graduates will be able to work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to 2 years, or 3 years if they are a PhD graduate. This is great news for all of the international art world students.

If your business requires further clarification on any of these points then please do get in touch info@drawrecruitment.com.

Notes from DRAW · 07.01.2021

Read More

Spotlight on: Accra, Ghana

DRAW Recruitment have been fortunate enough to be asked to work on two new roles in Accra recently, so we wanted to shine a light on this fascinating city, which is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities and find out what it has to offer. Once labelled “Africa’s Capital Of Cool” by the New…

AWITA Sponsored Memberships

DRAW are incredibly proud to support this years AWITA Sponsored Membership programme. AWITA strives to support the talent pipeline through professional development, mentoring and networking. Fifteen sponsored memberships are available annually to encourage the widening participation and diversity…

Working in the Arts: From Boutique to Blue Chip – Celia Kinchington

Working in the Arts: From Boutique to Blue Chip, moving from a small team to a large business can be intimidating, and feel well beyond your comfort zone if you don’t have that experience. We caught up with Celia Kinchington who made that move on a grand scale, to hear how she handled this…

Working in the Arts: Victoria Clay

This month’s Working in the Arts segment focusses on Victoria Clay who is the Junior Cataloguer and Valuer for the Paintings and Jewellery departments at Catherine Southon Auctioneers and Valuers. Where do you work? I work at Catherine Southon Auctioneers and Valuers. What is your job title? I am…