How to Find Employers That Sponsor Scale-Up Worker Visas in the UK
In a dynamic global economy where innovation and talent know no borders, the United Kingdom has introduced the Scale-up Worker visa—a ground-breaking immigration pathway designed to attract skilled professionals who possess the expertise and drive to contribute to the growth and success of high-growth scale-up businesses. Launched in 2021, this visa offers a streamlined route for individuals to join innovative companies at the forefront of technological advancement and business expansion.
If you're seeking a job with visa sponsorship, understanding scale-up worker visas might help you, and how to find scale-up employers is crucial. In this guide, we’ll explore what a Scale-up Worker visa is, its eligibility criteria and requirements, and how you can efficiently find employers willing to sponsor this visa through UK Visa Jobs.
What is a Scale-Up Worker Visa?
The Scale-up Worker visa is a special work visa introduced by the UK government to help rapidly growing businesses hire skilled talent from around the world. Unlike traditional skilled worker visas, the Scale-up Worker visa offers more flexibility, allowing employees to switch jobs after six months without needing a new sponsorship. This visa is aimed at professionals in high-demand sectors such as technology, finance, engineering, and healthcare.
This visa route is uniquely crafted to meet the evolving needs of rapidly growing companies, providing them with access to top-tier talent from around the world. Successful visa holders may also be eligible to apply for settlement in the UK after five years of continuous residence, offering long-term stability and career advancement opportunities.
Benefits of the Scale-Up Worker Visa
The Scale-up Worker visa offers several advantages for both applicants and scale-up businesses, including:
- Access to Global Talent: Endorsed scale-up businesses can recruit skilled professionals who drive innovation, productivity, and economic growth.
- Streamlined Process: The visa application process is efficient, reducing administrative burdens for applicants and employers and allowing businesses to onboard new hires quickly.
- Flexibility for Employees: Visa holders can switch jobs after six months without requiring a new sponsorship, offering greater career mobility.
- Pathway to Settlement: After five years of continuous residence, visa holders may apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK, providing long-term stability.
Who is Eligible for a Scale-Up Worker Visa?
To qualify for the Scale-up Worker visa, applicants must meet specific criteria, including:
1. Job Offer: Applicants must have a confirmed job offer from an endorsed scale-up business detailing the role, responsibilities, and salary. The job must align with the company’s growth plans and should be for a minimum of six months. You can receive a job offer by applying for jobs here , depending on your skills and experience.
2. Skills and Expertise: Applicants must possess the necessary skills, qualifications, and experience relevant to the job role and contribute to the scale-up business's growth and innovation objectives.
3. Salary Threshold: The job must offer a salary of at least £36,300 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing, whichever one is higher. This threshold is lower than the Skilled Worker Visa.
4. English Language Proficiency: Applicants must meet the English language proficiency requirements set by the UK government, typically by passing a recognised English language test or holding a qualifying degree conducted in English. You can learn more about the language requirements and how to meet them here.
5. Financial Stability: Applicants must demonstrate that they can support themselves and any dependents without recourse to public funds during their stay in the UK. This may involve providing evidence of sufficient funds or having the scale-up business undertake financial responsibility.
6. Additional Requirements: Applicants must be at least 18 years old and may be required to provide a Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if applying from certain countries.
Which Companies Sponsor Scale-Up Worker Visas?
In order to obtain a Scale-up Worker visa license, the employing scale-up business must obtain endorsement from an approved endorsing body, which evaluates the company's growth potential, innovation, and contribution to the UK economy. This endorsement confirms the scale-up’s viability and potential to make a significant impact in its industry. Once the employer is endorsed and obtained their Scale-up Worker license, they will be able to sponsor candidates via this route.
In many cases, employers who sponsor via the Scale-up visa route may also offer sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Rather than focusing solely on scale-up visa sponsors, job seekers are advised to look for employers that generally offer visa sponsorship, as the choice of visa route depends on the employer’s discretion.
There are currently more than 65 companies with a Scale Worker Visa license. Here are some of the top Scale-up worker visa sponsors:
1. Gymshark
Gymshark is a British fitness apparel and accessories brand that has grown into a global powerhouse in the fitness industry. The company designs and manufactures gym wear, sportswear, and accessories and has built a massive online community through social media marketing and influencer collaborations.
You can apply for visa-sponsored roles at Gymshark here. (Currently, no visa-sponsored role is listed from the employer).
2. Revolut
Revolut is a UK-based fintech company that provides digital banking services. It offers a range of financial products, including multi-currency accounts, cryptocurrency trading, stock investments, and international money transfers, making it a key player in the financial technology sector.
You can apply for visa-sponsored roles at Revolut here.
3. Community Fibre
Community Fibre is a rapidly growing broadband provider in the UK, which delivers high-speed full-fibre broadband to homes and businesses across London, aiming to revolutionise internet access with reliable, ultra-fast connectivity.
You can apply for visa-sponsored roles at Community Fibre here.
4. Plentific
Plentific is a property technology (PropTech) company. It provides digital solutions for property management, enabling landlords, property managers, and real estate professionals to streamline repairs, maintenance, and compliance processes.
You can apply for visa-sponsored roles at Plentific here.
5. Vivacity Labs
Vivacity Labs is an artificial intelligence and smart city technology company. The company develops AI-driven traffic management and urban mobility solutions to optimise city infrastructure, reduce congestion, and improve transportation efficiency using real-time data.
You can apply for visa-sponsored roles at Vivacity Labs here.
How UK Visa Jobs Can Help You
Searching for employers that sponsor Scale-up Worker visas can be time-consuming and challenging. UK Visa Jobs simplifies this process by providing:
- A Curated List of Jobs from Visa Sponsoring Employers: We regularly update our platform with jobs from companies actively sponsoring visas, which include Scale-up worker visas. You can find those jobs here.
- Application Support: Get guidance on how to apply for jobs, craft compelling CVs, and prepare for interviews with sponsoring employers. You can attend our specific webinars to improve your job application success rate.
- Regular Updates on Visa Policies: Stay informed about any changes in UK visa policies that may affect your application process. Check out our resources page for more information.
By leveraging UK Visa Jobs, you can efficiently find and apply for job opportunities that meet your visa sponsorship needs, making your UK career aspirations a reality.
Start your search today with UK Visa Jobs and take the next step in your career journey!
