Architecture firms are urging Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to swiftly reassess post-Brexit visa salary regulations, arguing that the policies are stifling an industry crucial to meeting Labour’s housing goals.
These firms faced a dual recruitment challenge when architecture was removed from the shortage occupation list last April, coinciding with the minimum visa salary increasing from just over £26,000 to £45,900.
The stricter visa rules stem from a decision under Boris Johnson’s government to curb the reliance on lower-paid EU workers across various industries by implementing an Australian-style points-based immigration system, which imposes thresholds on language proficiency, salaries, and skills.
Law firms Kingsley Napley and Bates Wells, representing major London firms such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Make Architects, and HTA Design, reported receiving no response to a letter sent to Cooper in December. They are now pressing for an official reply, a reduction in the salary threshold, and the reinstatement of architecture on the shortage occupation list, now called the immigration salary list.
Caroline Dove, a partner at HTA Design, which focuses on housing projects, argued that the salary hike is counterproductive given Labour’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes. With a workforce of around 240, her firm struggles to retain overseas graduates who train in London, as hiring them permanently has become financially unfeasible.
Dove noted that while senior architects meet the new salary criteria, the policy is forcing out international graduates trained in UK architectural standards. She emphasized the pressing need for skilled, multidisciplinary teams to execute housing projects, warning that the exclusion of qualified international professionals due to the increased salary threshold is detrimental to the sector.
Before these changes, architecture firms could more easily recruit EU architects since the profession was listed as a shortage occupation, alongside roles in the NHS.
Camilla Rich, HR manager at Make Architects, highlighted the broader financial strain caused by the changes, including higher visa costs, sponsorship expenses, and salary adjustments across pay scales. She said these factors have severely hindered recruitment from abroad, especially at the graduate level.
Marcia Longdon, an immigration expert at Kingsley Napley, stated that the high salary requirement is limiting firms’ ability to staff projects and move work forward.
Mouzhan Majidi, CEO of Zaha Hadid Architects, stressed that the UK’s global architectural success relies on attracting top talent, warning that current policies pose a major obstacle.
Kingsley Napley and Bates Wells are also urging the government to commission the Migration Advisory Committee for a full industry review to assess the impact and justification of these policy changes.
