Immigration advice for Academies, MATs and Schools

Recruitment continues to be a challenge for academies and schools, as a result of which many turn to overseas labour markets to fill vacancies. It has therefore become increasingly more important for school HR teams to be familiar with the UK's immigration system, both in relation to ensuring that all school employees have the right to work in the UK, and - where needed - in order to sponsor visa applications by teachers and other school staff under the Skilled Worker immigration route.

Fortunately, VWV's specialist immigration team is on hand to provide academies, MATs and schools with prompt advice on all aspects of UK immigration law which school HR teams have to deal with.

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How can we help?

Our highly-rated immigration team are well-known advisers to maintained schools and academies on all work-related immigration issues. We pride ourselves on providing our clients with practical and commercial solutions.

We advise on all immigration issues affecting academies, MATs and maintained schools, including:

• conducting right to work checks
• assessment of immigration options for prospective new hires from overseas
• advice on eligibility for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship by workers who are already in the UK, including those here on the Youth Mobility Scheme
• applying for a Skilled Worker sponsorship licence ensuring the licence is set up to work best within the school's or MAT's legal and operational structure
• support with sponsorship of employees and prospective employees
• assisting with visa applications by sponsored workers and their families
• ongoing support with the management of the your sponsor licence, including acting as a Level 1 user on the Sponsor Management System
• conducting audits to help you prepare for a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) compliance visit
• training on a range of immigration topics including conducting right to work checks, Skilled Worker sponsorship and sponsor licence compliance

Discounted fees for Retainer clients

Many of the general immigration queries we receive from academies can be dealt with under our Legal Services Retainer for no additional charge. Where a Retainer client requires more substantive immigration advice - such as support with an application for a sponsor licence, sponsorship of individuals and their visa applications, an immigration audit or training - then we are able to offer discounts to our usual fixed fees.

For further information about our immigration services, please contact Tom Brett Young on 0121 227 3759.