Immigration Update Webinar 2025
Immigration update 2025: Navigating the Challenges of Hiring Overseas Workers
Time: 11:00 - 11:45 | FREE
When: Thursday, 8th May '25
Hiring overseas workers just got a whole lot tougher. Starting this April, the UK government will hike the fees for sponsorship certificates by 119%, and intensify UKVI visits - with 70% of inspections now resulting in punitive actions.
Licenses are being revoked and suspended in record numbers. The new Border Security & Asylum Bill, currently passing through Parliament, will further impact UK hiring practices. As an employer, you need to safeguard your non-UK staffing strategies.
Don’t risk costly fines, reputational damage, or license revocation - register for our expert-led free webinar and get updates, key dates and advice on remaining compliant
We are accepting questions before and during the broadcast. Please send your questions to elizabeth.smith@bfi.co.uk.
Which functions will benefit from attending
- HR, Security, Recruitment, Legal & Compliance, Directors & Managers responsible for Immigration & Right to Work Checks, Vetting & Screening, Administration & Operations
Schedule
Introduction and welcome
Elizabeth Smith
Director of Research , Business Forums International Ltd. (BFI)
Elizabeth is director of research and a founding co-director at Business Forums International. She is responsible for all programme content and writing, and researches current areas of interest for senior HR professionals in large organisations. BFI is the UK’s leading HR risk specialist conference and training provider, delivering key and timely information to over 3,000 delegates a year both through public and in-house training courses. Before founding BFI in 1996, Elizabeth specialised in researching corporate financial programmes in Asia and the Middle East, based in Dubai. She also worked in advertising and publishing in the Middle East and London. Elizabeth was educated in the West Indies, Saudi Arabia and Belgium before reading Modern Languages at Durham University. She is currently developing an online training course for line managers to raise awareness of menopause symptoms and ways that employers can work to make their workplaces more inclusive.
- Brief overview of the webinar topics and objectives
- Introduction of the expert speaker
Understanding the New Sponsorship Certificate Fees
Ian Westwood
Immigration Consultant , The Westwood Organisation
Ian Westwood worked at the Home Office from 1993-2003. He was an operational Immigration Officer serving at Heathrow, Gatwick and Dover before being promoted to Chief Immigration Officer based in Croydon. Since then he has set up his own consultancy business, providing training and immigration advice to a variety of corporate and private clients on the subject of Immigration. He is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner to provide immigration advice in the UK. Ian’s training credentials include the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s Certificate of Training Practice and the Belbin Team-Role Accreditation.
- Detailed explanation of the fee hike and its implications
- Strategies to manage increased costs
Navigating Intensified UKVI Visits
- Overview of the intensified inspection process
- Best practices to ensure compliance during UKVI visits
- Case studies of recent inspections and outcomes
Impact of the Border Security & Asylum Bill
- Key provisions of the bill and their impact on hiring practices
- Steps to safeguard your non-UK staffing strategies
- Legal considerations and compliance requirements
Expert-Led Q&A Session
- Open floor for attendees to ask questions
- Expert insights and advice on specific concerns