An entrepreneur has said the Conservative government should embrace the migration of skilled workers to the UK, to fill skills gaps in Stem sectors, including engineering, science and IT.
Lopa Patel was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion in April and is a Stem ambassador – which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
There has been a decline in popularity in the UK schools in science subjects in recent years, as more students have opted for media-based courses.
In 2014, Universities UK also warned that a return to sustained growth in international student recruitment was “not a certainty” in the current climate.
Ms Patel is the first Asian woman to win the award since it was launched in 2004 – and says that immigration policies have “slammed the door” on some skilled workers.
“We have a demand for highly skilled migrants but have slammed the door on these people.
“We also seem to have ignored the fact that we are asking skilled students to leave after their course has finished. I would like to see a student entrepreneur visa.”
Senior Conservative Lord Heseltine has called for overseas students from non-EU countries to be exempt from immigration figures because of the skills and financial contribution they make to Britain’s economy.
Director General of the Institute of Directors, Simon Walker, also claimed last year that he was “appalled” that overseas students had been caught up in targets for reducing net migration.
Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors
Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can advise migrants from the EU and non-EU countries on a wide range of immigration issues, including:
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For expert legal advice on all UK immigration matters, call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.