The big news has come as the UK government announced the names of 2 certificates of sponsorship providing organizations for the Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme. If you do not know about this, UK is going to start a farmworker pilot scheme from 2019 through which it will start recruiting under Tier 5, seasonal workers from outside the European Union area to cut down the need of 70,000 to 80,000 workers yearly. The announced companies will be able to sponsor a whole of 2500 workers with half of each. The companies are:
1- Concordia UK Ltd Registered office: 19 North Street, Portslade, East Sussex, BN41 1DH. Ph: 0044 1273 422293 Email: farms@concordia.org.uk
2- Pro-Force Limited
Registered office at Hunstead House, Nickle Farm, Chartham, Canterbury, Kent CT4 7PE Phone: 0044 333 335 6262 Email: enquiries@pro-force.co.uk
How to get a certificate of sponsorship?
Certificate of Sponsorship is a must for those who are interested to apply. Without this certificate, no one can apply for this visa. The above-mentioned companies will be able to provide a certificate of sponsorship in Spring 2019 (proposed dates). There may be a possibility in the future that these 2 organizations will also be able to provide job offers on farms. The process works in a way that farm owners will be first letting these 2 organizations know what type of labor force they need. Then they will according provide sponsorship to the applicants. Or alternatively, the employers will be able to get sponsorship on behalf of their proposed employers.
How will these companies choose Farm Workers?
Though the final selection parameters have not been decided yet workers will be allocated based on a weighted scoring system. Scores will be determined based on a selection of questions and criteria including location, crop varieties, the number of workers required, length of requirement, and availability of accommodation. An objective of the Pilot Scheme is to ensure that the scheme is piloted across a broad cross-section of the eligible sectors and across the UK.
Which areas are covered for Farm Workers in the UK? It covers the whole UK including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
What types of Farmer Workers are required?
This pilot scheme will cover the recruitment of seasonal labor for work solely within the edible horticulture sector.
Defra defines the edible horticulture sector to include the following:
- Protected vegetables
- Field vegetables, including vegetables, herbs, leafy salads, and potatoes, etc.
- Soft fruit, including strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, etc.
- Top fruit (orchard fruit)
- Vine and bines
- Mushrooms
How to apply for a job at these 2 organizations?
Since both of the organizations have not yet set aside certain requirements for workers to apply, still you may show your interest to be an applicant for a certificate of sponsorship. Use the following links to apply to both of the organizations separately:
APPLY ONLINE TO PRO-FORCE LIMITED
APPLY ONLINE TO CONCORDIA UK LTD (currently unavailable)
You can read here more detailed information about the new farm worker visa scheme.
What is a UK farmworker visa?
The UK announces a farmworker visa pilot scheme for Non-EU immigrants. No doubt the UK has a great role in providing jobs in the farming sector to international farm workers but this was mainly limited to only eastern European countries. After Brexit, UK has no need for a great number of farmworkers to settle down this issue as farm owners have been criticizing UK government policies to fulfill the worker’s shortage in the farming labor sector after eastern European citizens can no more really come to do such jobs.
On 06.09.2018 UK home secretary, Mr. Sajid Javed announced that the government is going to launch a new visa system that has been designed for farmworker needs. As a testing time period, initially, 2500 workers will be hired from Non-EU countries. So this is clear now that farmworkers from Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and other countries will be able to take part in this program.