Will the Government's Withdrawal of the Tech Nation Millions Hold Us Back?

They plan to be close their doors on 31 March 2023.

Launched by David Cameron to champion Britain's tech sector, Tech Nation is a start-up body and has supported the rise of some of the biggest names in UK tech, including Monzo and Deliveroo. Tech Nation has separately managed and endorsed visas under the Digital Technology category of the Global Talent route since March 2020. The Government grant in question was used to support the visa programme as a way of the helping the country become a centre for global start-ups. Tech Nation has processed over 6,000 Global Talents visa applications since its inception and endorsed more than 3,000.

Tech chiefs around the country have slammed the Government's decision and warned that Tech Nation's closure and the threat that poses to the visa programme will be a major setback for Britain's tech sector.

What Does This Mean for the Global Talent Visa and Individuals Seeking Endorsement?

Questions now hang over the future of the Global Talent visa. Tech Nation has advised it will stop endorsing visa applicants in this category (although no deadline has been given) but in the interim will continue to accept new applications for endorsement.
With operations ceasing as of 31 March 2023, that creates a great deal of uncertainty for individuals who have recently applied to Tech Nation for endorsements and for those in the process of preparing their applications.

Applicants should submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure they receive the endorsement required for the visa.

For those who already hold visas under this route, endorsements will likely carry over once a new vendor has been selected. Home Office officials have issued assures they will "take every step to ensure applicants already part of the Global Talent route are not disadvantaged by the closure."

As of now, no details have been given of a new vendor to take over Tech Nation's endorsement operations in the future.