A new ‘start-up’ visa for entrepreneurs will ensure the ‘best talent’ comes to the UK, Theresa May today said at a Downing Street summit today.
The Government today announced plans to expand a current scheme which allows up to 2,000 non-EU graduates to come to the UK if they are sponsored by universities.
Under the roll-out, the scheme will be opened up to those without a degree and living outside the Brussels bloc, and sponsorship will be extended to businesses.
The Prime Minister hailed the change at a tech summit with industry leaders held at No10 to coincide with tech week.
The Prime Minister (pictured today at a technology round table at Downing Street) hailed the new visa saying it would boost trade and innovation
Theresa May (pictured at today’s round table) spoke as companies gathered at the No 10 talks detailed plans for £2.3 billion of private investment in the UK
Mrs May said: ‘There are exciting tech opportunities here in the United Kingdom.
‘In London tech week, Britain as a place to do tech business is being enthusiastically championed.
‘We have continually shown the advantages that the UK has for the tech sector.’
Companies at the No 10 talks detailed plans for £2.3 billion of private investment in the UK.
Software specialist Salesforce will plough in £1.9 billion over the next five years; Mubadala is launching a £300 million European investment fund based in the UK; and IT group NTT Data has earmarked £41 million for expansions plans.
A new start-up visa for entrepreneurs is being introduced in spring next year.
The Home Office said that the plan would open the visa route for those wanting to start a business in Britain to a wider pool of talent.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘The UK can be proud that we are a leading nation when it comes to tech and innovation, but we want to do more to attract businesses to the UK and our migration system plays a key part in that.
‘That’s why I am pleased to announce a new visa for people wanting to start a business in the UK.
‘This will help to ensure we continue to attract the best global talent and maintain the UK’s position as a world-leading destination for innovation and entrepreneurs.’
Home Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured yesterday) announced plans to expand a current scheme which allows up to 2,000 non-EU graduates to come to the UK if they are sponsored by universities
Tory MP Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, welcomed the creation of the new route.
He told MailOnline: ‘This is really good news. Sajid Javid understands that we need to attract the best and brightest around the world rather than closing the door.
‘Hopefully this will be the sign of more things to come’.
The news comes as Britain’s immigration system faces a major shake-up as the UK prepares to leave the EU.
Theresa May is said to be preparing to lift the cap on non-EU foreign doctors allowed into the UK through a tier 2 visa in order to staff Britain’s over-stretched hospitals.
But at the same time the Government has imposed a crackdown on visa being used by Russian oligarchs.
Officials are demanding that the 700-plus Russian millionaires who need a tier 1 visa to live and work in Britain must prove their extraordinary wealth is not built on ‘dirty money’.
Russian magnate and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich saw delays to his visa and has now moved to Israel.
The PM has pushed in the major crackdown in the wake of the Salisbury poison outrage, which saw former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia poisoned with Novichok last March.
Russian magnate and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich saw delays to his visa and has now moved to Israel after the PM brought in a crackdown on tier 2 visa