The UK government’s new immigration policy has approved the recruitment, and issuance of 10,500 temporary work visas for foreign skilled workers (specifically heavy goods vehicle – HGV drivers and poultry workers) beginning October 2021 These visas will be valid until 24 December 2021.
The new UK work visas targets to bring into the country 5,000 skilled HGV drivers (i.e. fuel tanker and food truck drivers) as well as 5,500 poultry processing industry workers to work in the UK on a temporary basis until the evening of 24th December.
According to the UK Department for Transport, three-month UK work visas will be issued to skilled truck drivers to provide “short-term relief for the haulage industry” and another 5,500 UK work visas to workers in the poultry processing industry “to avoid any potential further pressures on the food industry during this exceptional period.”
According to the UK commercial hauling industry actors- The Road Haulage Association, there is a shortage of of tens of thousands of lorry drivers. Some of the causes for this trend include: the Corona pandemic, an ageing workforce and a departure of EU foreign workers who following Brexit, can no longer legally live and/or work in the UK without a visa.
It is estimated that approximately 200,000 E.U. citizens who left Great Britain during the pandemic are yet to return.
This shortage of skilled workers has affected both individuals and families resulting in both fuel shortage and the problems with food deliveries.
In fact, BP and Esso have had to shut down several of their fuel stations in Britain last couple of due to shortage of qualified fuel truckers in the UK to get fuel to the pumps across the country.
Through this new policy, the UK government also plans to train 4,000 people as new HGV drivers with the help of examiners from UK’s Ministry of Defense.
Britain’s farming and food processing industries which are currently experiencing a shortage of fruit-pickers (leading to rot in the farms) and meat-packers, also made a request to the immigration to allow for issuance of the temporary visas.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have purposed to process the required visa applications, once made, promptly.
What's Covered in This Article
What is the Average Salary of a Truck Driver in the UK?
The average salary of a Truck Driver in the UK starts at £30,200 gross per annum with highest salaries exceeding £60,000.
How to a Get Visa Sponsor for UK’s New Work Visa
Where to find Truck driver jobs in the UK
Below are some online job portals whereby you could search and find truck driver jobs in the UK. As usual, make sure to do your own due diligence before taking up any jobs.
- https://fastertruck.com/
- https://www.fish4.co.uk/
- https://www.driverhire.co.uk/
- https://www.reed.co.uk/
- https://www.truckingjobs.co.uk/
Where to find Poultry Jobs in the UK
Below are some online job portals whereby you could search and find truck driver jobs in the UK:
