The UK is facing a serious shortage of qualified vets, which has been exacerbated by Brexit; given the increasing demand for pet care, it may be a good idea to think about hiring from overseas.
How do you hire veterinary professionals from overseas?
To hire someone from overseas, you will likely need to sponsor them, and this means applying for a sponsor licence. While it may be somewhat easier to seek out local talent, having access to global talent will open your doors to highly skilled professionals with fresh perspectives. They may be just what you have always been looking for but couldn’t find in the UK.
While it may be somewhat easier to seek out local talent, having access to global talent will open your doors to highly skilled professionals with fresh perspectives
You may also have found a suitable candidate in the UK, but they require permission to work in the UK and must therefore be sponsored to work in your practice. This is where having a sponsor licence also comes in handy.
What are the advantages of recruiting from overseas?
Being able to sponsor overseas talent and migrant workers already in the UK has its advantages, the main one being that sponsored workers are much more likely to stay in a role long-term. This is because their visas are tied to the duration of their job role, so they will naturally show a stronger commitment to your veterinary practice.
What is involved in obtaining a sponsor licence?
How to apply for a sponsor licence
Firstly, the process of obtaining a sponsor licence involves completing an online application form and submitting at least four supporting documents. The documents can include, but are not limited to, your liability insurance certificate, proof you’ve registered with HMRC as an employer for PAYE or that you’ve registered to pay corporation tax and VAT, and proof of ownership or lease of your premises. The costs for this stage vary on whether your practice would be classed as a small or large sponsor (ranging from £574 to £1,579).
You will then need to assign a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) to the proposed worker, so that they can apply for their skilled worker visa. Again, depending on whether your practice is classed as a small or large sponsor, you could be looking at incurring Home Office fees of at least £5,491 (to sponsor someone for a three-year period).
How can you balance the costs?
Certain fees, such as the visa application fee and immigration health surcharge, can be paid directly by the candidate
Home Office fees can be significant, and this can put off some employers; however, you do not need to take on all the immigration fees.
Certain fees, such as the visa application fee and immigration health surcharge, can be paid directly by the candidate.
You can also claw back certain immigration fees if the sponsored worker leaves their employment before their visa expires. This can be done by adding a clawback clause in their employment contract.
It must be noted that the sponsor licence fee, CoS assignment fee and immigration skills charge cannot be paid by the individual being sponsored.
In summary
Whether you’re struggling to find a vet practitioner locally or you’re looking for the best talent out there, sponsorship is one of the best ways of improving your workforce.
Given the substantial Home Office fees you have to pay, we recommend you seek legal assistance with your sponsor licence application, particularly given that many of these fees are non-refundable.
