Payroll MD Slams Foreign Roofer Recruitment as Waste of Time

THE MANAGING DIRECTOR of a construction payroll company has dismissed the move to enable recruiting roofers from abroad as unrealistic and not likely to make a difference.

Hudson Contract’s managing director, Ian Anfield said adding roofers to the immigration shortage occupation list would not work.

In his view, small firms – which employ the vast majority of trades – would not have the time or resource to go through the bureaucracy of becoming government-approved sponsors, recruiting abroad and then being responsible for people sticking to their visas. And even if they did, they wouldn’t find many takers at £400/week.

His statement came after the Construction Leadership Council successfully called for more construction roles to be added to the immigration shortage occupation list, in March 2023.

The CLC’s call followed the National Federation of Roofers (NFRC) findings that UK roofing companies are still struggling with skills shortages. In its Q1 2023 State of the Roofing Industry survey almost half (49%) of roofing contractor members reported difficulties recruiting roof slaters and tilers. The results confirmed that the longstanding roofing skills crisis continues.

The CLC admits that “applying for a Skilled Worker visa can be a complex process” and recommends that companies should set aside sufficient time to complete an application for a Sponsor Licence. The Home Office says most decisions on sponsor licences are made within eight weeks.

Revised Shortage Occupation List

Earlier this month, the CLC published an update with additional roles it wants added to the shortage occupation list of the UK’s Points Based Immigration System.

The updated list included general labourers, sheet metal workers and other construction and building trades.

The CLC also reported its dissatisfaction with the qualifying criteria for shortage occupations, an offer to work with government to improve the low awareness and engagement with the migration system by construction companies, the need to make the shortage occupation list more ‘meaningful’, suggestions around English language requirements and recommendations regarding short-term mobility.

The revised list of roles CLC is calling to be added to the immigration shortage occupation list are:

• Roofers, Roof Tilers and Slaters
• Architectural and Town Planning Technicians
• Bricklayers and Masons
• Business and Related Associate Professionals
• Carpenters and Joiners
• Construction and Building Trades
• Elementary Construction Occupations (General Labourers and Ground Workers)
• Mobile Machine Drivers and Operatives (Plant Operatives and Piling Rig Operatives)
• Plasterers, Dry Liners and Ceiling Fixers
• Road Construction Operatives
• Sheet Metal Workers
• Steel Erectors
• Welding Trades

>> Read more about the shortage occupation list in the news