UK woos overseas IT workers

Home Office minister Barbara Roche is set to suggest looser immigration laws to encourage more overseas technology immigrants.

This follows the pilot launch this week of the 'Innovator' work visa to encourage ecommerce entrepreneurs to move to the UK. Such people can now apply with minimal capital, provided they do not need state benefits and plan to employ at least two people. Previously, they needed at least £1m in funding.

The Home Office has already given overseas IT workers from outside the EU a special, faster process through which they can apply for UK work visas.

Roche is expected to reopen the debate on immigration policy in a speech to the Institution of Public Policy Research seminar on Monday.

John Higgins, director-general of the Computing Services and Software Association, said relaxation of immigration legislation would be good for business in general - and good for IT. "We're still struggling to exploit the New Economy," he said. "It can only be good to add new blood."

Roger Willmott, vice president of information systems for ecommerce retailer Buy.com UK, said a change could boost his company, as it would be able to hire faster, and retain existing staff.

"We have people from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand on limited visas," said Willmott. "A loosening of the law could help us get more continuity."

"The obvious way to add people is to train them, but that takes time," said Andrew Milroy, practice manager for researcher IDC. "The US has been relaxing immigration controls for some time, and it's been cherry-picking the best people."

IDC research suggests the UK will be short of 330,000 skilled IT professionals in 2003, compared with 155,000 this year.

First published in Computing