If you are hoping to relocate to the UK but do not have citizenship, you will need permission to work here. This is known as a UK work visa, and depending on your situation, you may find this a very simple process. However, there are also some occasions where it can be a lot harder.
Illegal Workers in a Diverse Job Market
The UK has a very diverse job market, and some sectors, such as the NHS, rely heavily on foreign doctors to bring much-needed skills where there are not enough natives qualified. These roles have robust recruitment processes and, therefore, the chances of an illegal worker becoming small. However, the problems tend to be more concentrated in the unskilled labour roles. Illegal workers at this level are easier to hide, and despite the punishments levied at the employer as well as the employee, it tends to be prevalent, taking away opportunities from legal immigrants.
What Skills Do You Need to Be Employed and Obtain a Working Visa in the UK?
To obtain a working visa in the UK, you need to meet the criteria in one of the different categories. A skilled worker visa could be for you if you have secured employment with a Home Office-approved employer. In this case, it would be normal to expect the employer to assist with the application, and they will usually have a fee to pay based on their size and status. A successful application in this category will see you granted a visa of up to 5 years.
A global business mobility visa is another option. Within this category, there are different sets of criteria which would need to be met in order to qualify for this option. There are many options, including:
A senior or specialist worker visa is designed for highly skilled individuals to move countries while working for the same international company. So if you have worked for the sponsor company for at least 12 months, you can apply to transfer to their UK facility on this visa.
A graduate trainees visa is fairly self-explanatory and again applies to those working for a multinational, where a graduate employee needs to come to the UK to gain skills not available at any of their other locations.
There are also health and care worker visas, graduate visas, high potential individual visas and global talent visas, to name a few.
UK Business Culture
The UK is known to have a strong culture of politeness and courtesy within the business world. It is an arena of discipline, and things like timekeeping and punctuality are considered critical. The UK has a class structure, and the gap between high and low is vast. Workers at all levels tend to be welcoming and supportive of new colleagues, provided they are friendly and attempt to fit in. Etiquette is essential, and you should take time to watch and learn from native workers who will quickly demonstrate the correct behaviour for the UK business culture.