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What Brexit changes do you need to be aware of?

by | Feb 21, 2021 | News

Brexit drawing a line between UK and Europe

End of free movement for EU nationals

On the 1st of January 2021, free movement for all EU nationals ended and the UK introduced a point-based immigration system.  The system treats EU and non-EU citizens equally.   Anyone coming into the UK to work needs to ensure they have the same visa requirements as other non-EU citizens.

As well, to recruit from outside the UK, Employers are required to hold a sponsor licence for which there are several rules that govern how they are issued and used. The following link gives full information regarding this www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers.

Points-based immigration system

The points-based immigration system is a scheme in which job applicants from outside of the UK, are awarded points based on certain characteristics, for example, their qualifications, salary level, and if the role in which they are applying for is in shortage. Under the new system, there will be several visa routes in which overseas nationals could come to the UK to work.

EU Settlement Scheme

EU nationals who were residents in the UK before 31st December 2020 can continue to live and work in the UK as long as they apply for, and successfully obtain, Settled or Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme.  The deadline for the scheme is 30th June 2021, if you have any EU employees you should encourage them to apply for Settled or Pre-Settled Status asap to ensure they have the necessary documents in place by the 30th June 2021.

If you fail to do the correct right to work checks for your employees and the Home Office finds you do not hold the correct documents the fines you can incur can be up to £20,000.

How can Spire HR help?

We don’t mean to panic you but just make you aware in advance of the changes you may need to make in your business. If you would like to know further information on the EU Settlement Scheme or any information on the EU changes you need to be aware of as a business, then feel free to get in touch with one of our team.

We tend to work with small to medium businesses as their outsourced HR provider, helping you to keep updated with all the correct information and providing bespoke business advice on a flexible retainer.

Give us a call on 01925 626253 or email info@spirehr.co.uk to find out more.

As we had recently come up against some difficult staffing issues which we had not experienced before, Ellen Parkin at Spire HR was recommended to us by one of our business partners to guide and assist us with the complex HR legalities we needed to adhere to.

Ellen was very efficient and professional and gave us instant confidence that she would be able to competently provide the help we needed. Ellen was readily accessible via email or telephone throughout the whole process and gave us the vital lifeline we needed during a very emotive and stressful time. Spire HR realised that as an SME, we had to balance the commercial viability for HR consultancy with the expertise and guidance we needed and Ellen was open and honest from the outset, providing a cost-effective and professional service. I would therefore have no hesitation in recommending Spire HR to anyone.

 

We are too small to justify a full-time HR employee; yet we cannot afford to ‘get it wrong’ The excellent service offered by Spire HR Solutions is the perfect solution for us

 

AGP have used Spire HR Solutions Limited for numerous matters relating to HR issues for both ourselves and clients of the practice. I have always found them to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful and to be very responsive to our needs.

Spire is now the practice’s first point of contact for any HR issues we encounter and I would certainly recommend them to anyone in need of assistance with any HR matters.

 

Ellen has helped streamline procedures and provide greater controls through her extensive knowledge and professional dedication, which has enabled me to concentrate on my main objective, growing the business.

I would say ‘key’ to her service is the confidence she provides with the HR guidance, I know without doubt that when dealing with my employees I follow the correct procedure and staff feel confident that they have the right HR support. The guidance on our bonus structure and appraisal scheme is one of many examples in which Ellen’s guidance has been invaluable.

I have been pleased with work Ellen has done for us and would not hesitate to recommend her to others. She provides a high quality, professional service and is very responsive to the needs of a small, growing organisation.

 
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