European Election Results - What does it mean for You

From last night until today, news from all media outlets has been dominated by one main topic, the European Elections.

In the UK, we saw the continual turmoil between the so-called "#Brexiteers" and "#Remainers" with the newly formed Brexit Party gaining a third of the votes and other out-spoken remain parties (Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Plaid Cymru) gaining around 40% of the votes.

These results only mean one thing and one thing alone - the #Brexit fight is not over.

The mainstream centrist-right and centrist-left parties (Conservatives and Labour) are now pondering how they can salvage their reputation and their control over the country (or at least Parliament) in moving forward.

However these parties move forward, one thing is obvious - uncertainty for businesses and dare I say, further immigration reforms.

With the #net_migration from Europeans to the UK hit an all-time low since 2009 (at 57,000 for the year ending September 2018), the Government has already laid out their policies to attempt combat this. The introduction of the settled status scheme, easing the complexity surrounding entry to the UK and more importantly, their plan to reduce the complexity of hiring from overseas (i.e. no resident labour market test, etc.). These plans (and pipeline plans) from the Government is really to compete when #brexit finally happens.

Apart from the standard #brexit planning in looking at their current British and European workforce, businesses should look at a broader angle in increasing their overseas workers' population and European workforce before #brexit D-Day (i.e. October 31).

Businesses ought to plan how they can use the pre-settled status and settled status routes for their workers, to their business and commercial advantages and the continually favourable routes under Tier 2.

Should you start looking at bringing the much-needed European workers to the UK before October 2019 and utilise the pre-settled status route?

Should you then look at filling the gap with the favourable graduate to workers routes and increasingly favourable Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) and (General) routes?

We believe both questions (or a combination of the two) need to be carefully considered. After all, irrespective of how #brexit will turn out, our businesses are still operating and likely to do so in the foreseeable future.

Shores & Legal are experienced and expert immigration partners for your business and personal immigration requirements. We help companies with Brexit and mobility planning and your businesses immigration needs. If you wish to discuss your UK immigration requirements, contact us at +44 (0) 207 097 6778 or info@shoreslegal.com.