For skilled workers from outside the UK, securing a work visa is often the first hurdle to land a dream job. One route to achieving this is through employer sponsorship. This means instead of having to apply for your own visa, which can be expensive, challenging, and lengthy process, you apply for a job with a company that is licensed in the UK to apply for a work visa for you on your behalf, so you can work for them. This article explains work visa sponsorship in the UK and highlights companies known to sponsor visas.
What is Work Visa Sponsorship?
In most cases, UK employers require a sponsor license to hire someone from outside the UK. This process involves demonstrating the company’s legitimacy and the role’s adherence to regulations like minimum wage. Once licensed, the employer can sponsor your work visa application, significantly simplifying the process for you.
Benefits of Visa Sponsorship
Sponsorship offers advantages for both employers and employees. Companies gain access to a wider talent pool, while sponsored workers benefit from streamlined visa applications and employer support.
Who Can Sponsor?
The UK government maintains a register of licensed sponsors in their website gov.uk. This list includes a variety of businesses, from multinational corporations to smaller firms. Below are the top 15 prominent companies known to sponsor visas. You can find the links to the career websites for these companies at the end of the article:
- Big Four Accounting Firms: Ernest Young, PwC, Deloitte, KPMG
- Financial Institutions: JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Barclays
- Healthcare: National Health Services (NHS)
- Consulting Firms: McKinsey & Company, Accenture
- Pharmaceuticals: GSK
- Technology: Google, Amazon
- Engineering: Rolls-Royce
Finding a Visa Sponsor
While these companies are known sponsors, it is always wise to check individual job postings or the company website for confirmation. Many other UK businesses across various industries also offer sponsorship, and as mentioned you can check the full list of companies who are licensed to sponsor visas in the government website gov.uk. Resources like job boards can also be helpful tools in your search. You can also check with the hiring manager or recruiter on the availability for visa sponsorship.
Important Considerations
Securing a sponsored job doesn’t guarantee the visa approval. Your qualifications and the role’s fit within the UK immigration system will also be evaluated. Also, please remember that the UK changes the immigration and visa rules regularly, usually every April. Therefore, if you want to understand the latest rules, you can consult with an immigration professional or law firm for personalised guidance.
Conclusion
Work visa sponsorship in the UK offers a valuable pathway for skilled workers. By understanding the process and exploring companies known for sponsorship, you can increase your chances of finding the right opportunity and building a successful career in the UK.
Company websites links
- EY: https://www.ey.com/en_us/careers
- PwC: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers.html
- Deloitte: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/careers/careers.html
- KPMG: https://kpmg.com/us/en/home/careers.html
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.: https://careers.jpmorgan.com/us/en/home
- Goldman Sachs: https://www.goldmansachs.com/careers/
- HSBC: https://www.hsbc.com/careers/where-we-hire/united-kingdom
- Barclays: https://home.barclays/careers/
- NHS: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/
- McKinsey & Company: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/search-jobs
- Accenture: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/careers
- GSK: https://us.gsk.com/en-us/careers/
- Google: https://www.google.com/about/careers/applications/
- Amazon: https://hiring.amazon.com/
- Rolls-Royce: https://careers.rolls-royce.com/
