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Time is running out! Are You A Sponsor Licence Employer Yet?

The way firms hire from overseas is changing from January 2021.
September 7, 2026
Time is running out! Are You A Sponsor Licence Employer Yet?

Disclaimer: The information in this blog is accurate as of its publication date. Any updates after that date are not reflected here.

The way firms hire from overseas is changing from January 2021. Organisations from many sectors likely to experience a talent shortfall when the transition period between the UK and the EU ends. 87% of UK employers are concerned about how Brexit is going to affect them and the measures to take. One of the utmost crucial steps is to become a sponsor employer if you hire or are planning to recruit overseas talent in the coming year. 

Only 65 days remaining(as of 29th October 2020), when the immigration rules will not be the same as they are now. Potential employers need to adjust to new recruitment changes. But even after so many warnings from the Home Office, only 31,690 organisations have applied for sponsorship.

list of companies with Sponsor Licence

In the data below, you can see the industries and the number of companies having sponsor licences. 

IndustryNo. of companiesAdvertising378Administrative and support1606Agriculture53Architecture653Arts, Entertainment751Betting15Call Center11Care Home153Civil Engineering90Computer Programming2926Construction393Dental236Education997Electricity, Gas, Steam, Air54Finance, Insurance1133Food & Accommodation541Household11IT, Telecommunication483Legal329Management1837Manufacturing1742Medical82Mining and Quarrying116Others12421Public administration, Government19Publishing180Radio and Television36Real estate224Recruitment283Religious284Rental62Scientific Research372Security44Social Work617Software Publishing188Transportation & Storage284Vetenary56Video or Music Production264Water, Waste management27Wholesale & Retail1615

Do you have a way to calculate the sponsor licence UK cost?

Yes! Use our calculator below to calculate your sponsor licence visa cost.

Please answer the questions and you will be able to calculate the approx cost for The sponsor licence -

What advisories think of recruitment gaps post Brexit

The reports published by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) shows sectors such as healthcare, supply chains & logistics, and technology will face manpower pressures. Occupations such as engineers, programmers, web designers, medical practitioners, artists, dancers and nurses are currently under the shortage occupation list, and recruitment situations might worsen when the free movement ends.   

What might be the impact of not having a sponsor licence post-Brexit

  • Won’t be able to hire skilled foreign workers:
    When the free movement between the EU and the UK ends overseas talent and people from EU nations will be treated equally. You will need a sponsor licence if you wish to hire skilled staff from overseas. 
  • Difficulty in building your dream team:
    Post- Brexit the processing time of sponsor licence applications likely to increase. Either you will have to be a part of a stiff competition with other organisations to recruit British citizens or have to wait for a longer time to get your Sponsor Licence to hire skilled overseas staff. 

Do you hire/anticipate to hire skilled staff from overseas?

You might be seeing the application fees and the application process a considerable resource investment. But from January 2021, if you employ skilled foreign workers you have more freedom as RLMT (RESIDENT LABOUR MARKET TEST) is also getting abolished. Thus, being a sponsor employer is highly beneficial, and we can help in you being a sponsor employer.

About our Expert
A Y & J Solicitors
A Y & J Solicitors

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