A new Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa will allow applicants with exceptional skills in digital technology to enter and work in the UK under new criteria.
TIGA – champions of the UK video games industry – is pleased to announce that a new Government-backed scheme allowing more professionals to live and work in the UK is launching today.
Also known as the Tech Nation Visa Scheme, the new guidelines published and endorsed by the Home Office will allow companies to secure world-class talent for their organisation, or assist an exceptionally talented team or individual in migrating their business to the UK.
TIGA has campaigned consistently for a flexible migration policy, especially when it comes to highly skilled individuals in the technology and digital sectors. The UK is one of the most globally competitive markets and innovators in this space, and securing key talent from outside of the EU is essential to maintaining that reputation.
In addition to meeting the mandatory and qualifying criteria for the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa applicants can now benefit from new criteria, which have come into force and allow for applications to be fast-tracked.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“TIGA is delighted that the Home Office has published renewed eligibility criteria for the Exceptional Talent Visa. The video games industry is filled with countless amazing and talented individuals, and many of them want to come live and work here in the UK. It is important that that process is easy and straight forward, so the UK Industry and continue to grow and evolve.”
“The UK video games industry also has other highly specialist roles with rare skillsets that do not fall into the category for this new visa and so the Shortage Occupation List remains an important fast-track route for the sector. TIGA will therefore continue to campaign for Specialist roles to be added to the Shortage Occupation List. This will enable games businesses to address skill shortages in highly specialised roles.”
Giselle Stewart, Director, UK Corporate Affairs, Ubisoft, commented:
“As a long-term advocate of continuing to build the talent pool in the UK, Ubisoft is proud to support the Tech Nation Visa Scheme. This is a key step in supporting the growth of the industry in the UK. By creating a new route for experienced and specialized programmers to join the UK industry, the visa scheme will directly benefit our Reflections and Future Games of London studios, as well as other UK studios with whom we collaborate.”
You can find out more information about the Visa here: http://bit.ly/1YinEVI Application Forms: http://bit.ly/1MVG2jf
TIGA: https://www.tiga.org/
Press Contact:
Kirsty Endfield Director & Founder Swipe Right PR E: kirsty@swiperightpr.com T: +44 (0) 77322 89047
About TIGA
TIGA is the network for games developers and digital publishers and the trade association representing the video games industry. Since 2010, TIGA has won 24 business awards and commendations and has been successfully accredited as an Investors in People organisation three times. TIGA focuses on three sets of activities:Political representation, media representation andbusiness services.
This enhances the competitiveness of our members by providing benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities. It also means our members’ voices are heard in the corridors of power and positively represented in national, broadcast and UK video games trade media.
Get in touch:
Tel: 0845 468 2330
Email: info@tiga.org
Web: www.tiga.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tigamovement
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/tiga
For further information, you can also contact: Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or email: richard.wilson@tiga.org