Vialto expert article published in People Management

With a new prime minister taking office, the UK has a fresh opportunity to rethink its immigration system and address the skills gaps holding back British businesses. A national, one-size-fits-all approach to work visas has long skewed in favor of London, leaving employers elsewhere to either overpay, leave roles unfilled, or move work overseas—and the case for regional flexibility is growing harder to ignore.

Ian Robinson, a partner and immigration expert at Vialto, argues that giving regions the power to set their own skills priorities and salary thresholds could make sponsorship more workable nationwide, while still being simple enough for the Home Office to enforce. His perspective highlights a pressing issue for HR leaders: building sponsorship and visa policies now that anticipate regional pay realities, rather than waiting for reform to catch up.

As the debate over the UK’s immigration framework unfolds, businesses that plan ahead will be best positioned to compete for talent, wherever in the country they operate. Read the full article in People Management here.