Non-UK Employee Visas and the Skilled Worker Route Training Course
Are your non-UK staff employed legally? Do your employees have the correct visa? Are you risking your Employer Sponsorship Licence? Are you prepared for a UKVI visit? Do you fully understand the Points Based System (PBS) and its applications?
Description
Immigration Compliance: The Challenge for UK Employers
It has become increasingly challenging for UK employers to navigate the complex and constantly evolving immigration system while maintaining full compliance with their legal obligations.
The risk of non-compliance is substantial, and a simple oversight can lead to serious consequences - from civil penalties and licence revocation to reputational damage and operational disruption. With ongoing changes to post-Brexit EU worker requirements, evolving sponsorship duties, and stricter enforcement of employer obligations, staying compliant requires vigilance and up-to-date knowledge. For organisations that employ non-UK staff or hold a sponsor licence, establishing robust compliance procedures is no longer optional - it's essential for protecting your organisation from regulatory and financial risk.
Our training course cuts through the complexity, providing you with the practical knowledge to manage your immigration compliance obligations confidently. Learn to implement defensible procedures that reduce the risk of penalties and licence sanctions, ensure your workforce remains legally employed, and secure your position in an increasingly regulated environment.
Agenda
09:30 Welcome and housekeeping
09:40 Terminology & applying for a sponsor licence
- Key terminology to be aware of before sponsoring an individual
- The application process to become a licenced sponsor
- Overview of compliance duties
10:20 Comfort break
10:30 The Points Based System & skilled worker visas
- Explanation of points-based visas
- Overview of employer-sponsored visas
- Global Business Mobility route
- Scale-up visas
- Temporary Workers
- Skilled worker visa criteria in detail*
- Tradeable points
- Salary requirements
- English language requirements
- Maintenance
- Health & care visa
11:30 Comfort break
11:40 Considerations before you sponsor an individual to work for you
- Immigration skeletons to be aware of
- Alternative (non-sponsored) immigration routes for staff coming into the UK
- European nationals & clarification of UKVI compliance for your EEA workers, depending on their employment start date
- Clarity over alternatives to sponsorship: Humanitarian routes; indefinite leave to remain; Hong Kong visa; Family visas; Talent visa; Students; Graduates; High Potential Individuals; Temporary Workers
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Sponsoring a skilled worker
- Practicalities of sponsoring a skilled worker
- The cost of sponsorship (for the employer & the visa applicant)
- SOC codes
- Genuine vacancy replacing the resident labour market test
- Salary practicalities
- Issuing a certificate of sponsorship
- Defined versus undefined certificates
- The sponsorship management system
- Information required for a certificate of sponsorship
- Common questions surrounding certificates of sponsorship
- The visa application process
14:45 Comfort break
15:00 UKVI compliance
- Right to work checks
- Starting work & checking documentation
- Online & manual checks
- Follow up checks
- Sponsorship compliance
- Sponsor duties for each of your skilled workers: reporting changes; record keeping etc.
- Annual duties for sponsors
- UKVI audits
- Purpose of audit
- What happens before, during and after an audit
16:25 Wrap up & final questions
16:30 End of workshop
Who the Course is For
This workshop is designed for employers who are recruiting overseas staff - the course is for licensed sponsors and those that are looking to become one. The workshop will go through in detail the new Points Based System and clarify which visa routes may be relevant to you as an employer.
What our delegates say
"I thought this course was excellent, it was delivered really clearly at a good pace. The trainers were really knowledgeable, helpful and able to answer all questions." - Cambridge Consultants
"Loved the personal touch with answering all questions, very useful and practical information, would recommend 100%" - Pexapark AG
Topics Covered
- Latest Home Office updates
- Implications on your policies and procedures of Brexit and changes to immigration
- Non-PBS routes to working in the UK
- The practicalities of sponsoring a skilled worker
- Certificates of Sponsorship
- Tradeable points within the new system
- Skills level and salary
- English language requirements
- Ensuring your policy is robust and compliant
- Right to work and document checking
- Being prepared for a Home Office Audit/Visit
- New staff: Home Office compliant recruitment
- Existing staff: managing work visas
Learning Outcomes
Failure to comply fully with Home Office regulations can have serious ramifications for employers and it is essential that your policies and systems are up to date and legal to avoid substantial fines, removal of your licence and reputational damage.
This practical and intensive workshop will explore the latest Home Office regulations, the new Points Based System and non-PBS routes in depth so you come away with a full understanding of the requirements on you as an employer of non-UK nationals.
The workshop is designed to be interactive and enable delegates to ask questions throughout the day and learn from and share experiences from other delegates. This is a unique opportunity for you to have your organisations policy and procedure questions answered so you can ensure your policies are watertight.
FAQs
What does BFI specialise in?
BFI provides expert-led training in HR compliance, employment law, immigration for employers, union relations, workplace inclusion, and AI and talent solutions.
Who typically attends your courses?
Attendees include HR managers, legal teams, compliance officers, operations leaders, and public sector employers.
Are your trainers practitioners?
Yes. All trainers are experienced specialists; we feature practitioners from the public and private sectors as well as lawyers, policy advisers, former regulators, and consultants.
How do I book a course?
Choose an event on the website and click Register. You can pay online with a credit card or request an invoice.
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. Public and private-sector organisations may use PO numbers. These can be added during the registration process, or can be retrospectively added to am invoice if the place has been booked already.
We need to set you up as a Supplier, can you complete a form or send me over your company information?
Yes, we can do either; please contact us via info@bfi.co.uk
Can I get a PO number added to our invoice?
Yes, please send details through to info@bfi.co.uk or reply to us using your confirmation email
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes. Discounts for multiple bookings are automatically applied at checkout. For groups of over ten, it may be more cost-effective to run the course in-house. Call 01983 861133 for details
Can I transfer my place to another date or colleague?
Yes. Substitutions are free, and transfers are typically allowed within a set timeframe.
What is your cancellation policy?
BFI follows standard UK training-industry cancellation terms.
How are online courses delivered?
Training is delivered live via Zoom with interactive Q\&A and case-based discussion.
Will I receive slides and supporting materials?
Yes. Attendees receive slides, templates (where relevant), and many other useful documents and links.
Will I receive a copy of the event recording?
Our monthly subscription and webinar clients receive recordings of the live sessions; otherwise we do not record our courses to encourage confidential discussion and questions under the Chatham House Rule
What time zone are online events delivered in?
All events are delivered in UTC / London time unless otherwise stated
What is included in in-person events?
Full-day training includes refreshments, full documentation which is emailed prior to the event and networking opportunities.
Are your venues accessible?
Yes. All venues are fully accessible.
Are your courses CPD-certified?
Many courses are accredited by The CPD Certification Service.
Can I ask questions about my organisation’s situation?
Yes. Trainers answer questions during the session and can respond afterward.
Will the training help us prepare for an audit?
Yes, on our audit courses you will learn what triggers visits, what officers look for, and how to evidence compliance.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. All attendees receive a digital certificate of course completion.
Do you offer private or in-house training?
Yes. All courses can be tailored for your team. Visit https://bfi.co.uk/team-training/
Do you offer consultancy?
Yes. BFI offers policy reviews, audit preparation, HR compliance support, and workforce advisory services.