Startup Life/Hiring & Workforce/News/ Applications for UK Tech Visas at record high The number of people applying for UK tech visas is at its highest level since the system launched in 2014. By Freya Pratty 12 October 2020 \Venture Capital How VCs' lack of succession planning is leaving big firms without a future By Mimi Billing 27 January 2023 Startup Life/Hiring & Workforce/News/ Applications for UK Tech Visas at record high The number of people applying for UK tech visas is at its highest level since the system launched in 2014. By Freya Pratty 12 October 2020 The number of people applying for the UK’s Tech Nation visa — which allows individuals to work in the country’s digital technology sector — was at its highest level in September since the system was launched in 2014. Applications in the third quarter of 2020 were up 42% from the previous quarter, and up 8% from the same time last year. Applicants predominantly came from India, Russia and America, and most were from backgrounds in software development, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The figures suggest that the coronavirus pandemic — which has seen the UK experience the highest death toll in Europe — and the fears of a no-deal Brexit, have less affected the appeal of the country’s tech sector than might have been expected. “The data flies in the face of claims that remote working and Covid-19 will deter people coming to the UK to work. Quite the contrary,” says Stephen Kelly, chair of Tech Nation. The ability of the country to attract tech workers is critical to economic recovery after the pandemic, Kelly says — in 2019, for example, £10.1bn was invested into UK tech companies and created 2.9m jobs. “25% of those who receive a Tech Nation visa are founders. These individuals are setting up businesses across the UK, bringing capital and jobs that are fuelling our economic growth,” he says. “As we consider the long-term effects of Covid-19 and as borders collapse as we move to the cloud, the UK needs to carefully consider the future of the digital nomad.” The Tech Nation visa was launched in 2014, and allows founders and employees within the tech sector to come to the UK for up to 5 years without the added authorisation they would otherwise need. Freya Pratty covers news at Sifted. She has previously interned at Bloomberg and tweets from @FPratty Related Articles How to hire developers: Three tips to survive the tech talent shortage By Stefan Lederer Click here to read more Are London’s fintechs really a good place to work? Here are the results By Isabel Woodford Click here to read more Insider view: Amsterdam’s friendly tech community By Amy Lewin Click here to read more “Move slowly and build things” By Jing Ouyang Click here to read more Most Read 1 \SVB News Rescue deal: HSBC buys Silicon Valley Bank UK 2 \Venture Capital How does venture debt actually work? 3 \Fintech How new EU policies will impact ecommerce marketplaces — and how payments tech can help 4 \Deeptech ‘Basically mindblowing’ — What GPT-4 can do, according to one startup that’s had access to it 5 \Sustainability Berlin-founded Sunhero raises €10m to cash in on Spanish solar energy
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