Co-founders Zain Ali and Asma Bashir plan to submit a report to the Home Office, representing a broad coalition of businesses affected by these changes. They are also encouraging other organisations to share their experiences and add their voices to this collective appeal.

The UK Home Secretary’s announcement last year introduced a five-point plan aimed at reducing net migration. In alignment with this plan, the Home Office raised the minimum salary requirement for the Skilled Worker visa route to £38,700, up from £26,200 for those under 26.

This adjustment has already led to significant disruptions, with companies like KPMG and HSBC withdrawing job offers to international graduates from UK universities. The ripple effects of these new visa rules are being felt across the recruitment landscape.

The situation may become even more restrictive, as a recent letter from a Cabinet minister to the Migration Advisory Committee signals a review of various overseas worker categories, particularly those in high-skill sectors such as Information Technology, Telecommunications, and Engineering. This poses a serious concern for industries striving for global tech leadership, especially amidst an economic slowdown and a decrease in new company formations.

Zain Ali, CEO and co-founder of Centuro Global commented: “The new Skilled Worker visa restrictions are another blow to the future generation of professional talent. The impact of the new rules continues to disrupt recruitment across the economy, and this sudden shift in UK Immigration Policy has left bright futures in limbo and dreams dashed.

“Can you imagine landing your dream graduate job only to have it snatched away at the last minute? That's the harsh reality for hundreds of grads this year, even though Skilled Worker visa holders employed in the private sector make up only a small proportion of overall migration numbers. Highly-skilled workers who could help develop the  native talent pool are also being targeted and could face a similar fate.”

With higher salary thresholds for foreign hires, many companies can no longer afford to recruit from abroad. However, shortages of skilled workers in the UK put firms in an impossible position.

From high-growth startups to global-facing enterprises, companies face an impossible challenge. They are forced to choose between compromising on talent or breaking the bank on inflated salaries.

Zain continued: “The UK’s growth depends on its best companies, the ones most threatened by the current visa regime. We believe that the change of government provides the perfect opportunity to reassess old policies and strike a new balance between political imperatives and business needs. Every revoked graduate job offer and highly skilled professional denied entry represents a long-term revenue loss for the Treasury and a missed chance to nurture talent and fund public services.

“A truly strategic immigration regime would not impose these cliff edges. We need a more balanced policy that nurtures talent and allows our unicorn firms to thrive. Otherwise, the promised end of the recession might be just another false dawn.”