Recruitment firm says Scotland needs to attract more UK work visa holders

February 08 2010 by Liam Clifford

Although an increasing number of foreigners coming to work in the UK are choosing Scotland as their new home, the country needs to attract yet more immigrants.

This is according to recruitment specialist Hays Scotland, which says skills shortages are a problem for the country. A survey released last week by TalentScotland found that Scotland is now the most popular destination for foreign workers looking to move to the UK. However, more still needs to be done to attract workers specialising in areas like engineering, energy and technology.

Hays managing director for Scotland, Darren Montagu, says there are plenty of opportunities for UK work visa holders in Scotland. He explained, “Scotland very much takes the lead in the energy industry. Overall it is strong and although we are seeing more jobs, there are some skills gaps that can’t be filled with local talent and will offer fantastic opportunities for the right international candidates.”

Montagu says immigrants with some specific industry-relevant qualifications will be particularly welcome, “employers are seeking energy professionals with technical degree qualifications, such as mechanical, electrical, chemical and structural engineering degrees and many companies offer support to staff in obtaining postgraduate qualifications.”

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