A ‘Global Talent Taskforce’ has been launched by the UK with the goal of luring the world’s top talent to the country. The Global Talent Taskforce’s main goal will be to recruit the best talent for the UK’s priority industries.
During a session on ‘Unlocking UK-India Collaboration for a New Era of Innovation’ at India Global Forum’s Future Frontiers Forum at the Science Museum in London on Thursday, Lord Patrick Vallance called for greater mobility of high-skilled professionals through the Global Talent Visa and the need to tap into complementary skills across all sectors.
With a Global Talent visa, you can work in the UK if you have an endorsement as a leader or potential leader in digital technology, for example, in financial technology, gaming, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence. You do not need a job offer to get the Global Talent visa.
The Global Talent Taskforce will assist academics, entrepreneurs, investors, top-tier management and engineering talent, and high-calibre creatives in relocating and will collaborate closely with the UK’s overseas presence to network and establish a pipeline of people who wish to move to Britain.
Reporting directly to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, the Global Talent Taskforce will facilitate support for researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, top-tier managerial and engineering talent, and high-calibre creatives to relocate. The Taskforce will work to identify and approach top talent to move to the UK and work closely with the UK’s international presence to network and build a pipeline of talent who want to come to Britain.
The UK government has also launched a new ‘Industrial Strategy’ to bolster homegrown talent with cutting-edge, highly skilled expertise from around the world to work in the key sectors identified in the Strategy.
It will also build on commitments in the recent Immigration White Paper to expand eligible institutions for the High Potential Individual visa and fast-track the brightest and best talent into UK high-growth and strategic industries, such as in the science and technology sectors.
The launch of the Taskforce and £54 million Global Talent Fund, which will attract world-class researchers and their teams to the UK, covering relocation and research costs over 5 years starting this year, sends a clear signal to exceptional talent and businesses that the UK seeks to continue its global leadership in growth-driving sectors.
The Global Talent Fund will be allocated over the coming weeks, via UKRI, to leading universities and other research organisations. These organisations will use their expertise to select and target the researchers, aligned to the overarching objectives of the scheme and in support of our industrial strategy priorities.
These initiatives will support the government’s Plan for Change to deliver increased investment and more secure, skilled jobs for working people across the country, alongside an immigration system which restores control of the UK’s borders.
The £54 million Global Talent Fund comes over 5 years, starting in 2025/2026. The fund, administered by UKRI and delivered by research organisations, will cover 100% of eligible costs, including both relocation and research expenses, with no requirement for match funding from research organisations. The initiative also includes full visa costs for researchers and their dependants, removing significant financial and administrative barriers to relocation.