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Small Businesses: Skilled Workers

Asked by Callum AndersonLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 15 June 2026UIN 8412

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of visa fee reimbursement schemes on the recruitment of highly skilled workers by UK scale-ups.

Answered by Blair McDougall

As part of delivering the Industrial Strategy, the Chancellor launched the Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale-Ups on 10 June. This targeted grant scheme will help UK scale-ups in Clean Energy, Life Sciences and Digital & Technologies recruit internationally by reimbursing eligible visa application fees. It will support firms to access exceptional skills, strengthen global competitiveness and reinforce the UK as a place for ambitious businesses to start, scale and stay in the UK.

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