If you were at the House of Lords on Wednesday for the launch of Passport to Progress: A Blueprint for the World’s Most Pro-Innovation Visa System, I hope you’ll forgive me for banging on again about it. We can only fit a few hundred people on the Cholmondeley Terrace, but we have a network of thousands to update.
This is our second report on immigration reform in as many weeks. While Job Creators 2023 was a shorter UK founder focused briefing paper, in Passport to Progress Derin Koçer takes a broader approach, analysing international visa frameworks to make a series of recommendations for improving migration systems worldwide.
Give it a read to find out how Canada is realising the benefits of positioning international graduates as the future of its workforce; Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment Permit allows Irish firms to attract talent; Israel’s Innovation Labs programmes provide migrant entrepreneurs with access to critical technological infrastructure; and New Zealand’s Global Impact Visa creates training, investment and networking opportunities for migrant entrepreneurs.
As Derin said at the launch, “the talent race is more fierce than ever. Countries aren’t only competing with rivals but also allies.” It’s all to the good though, as it's a battle that unlocks the talent of individuals, driving forward human progress. As Rob May, CEO of ABE Global said at the launch:
“Although humanity is locked in almost 200 distinct countries and economies, human societies have always interacted intensely, as ideas, talent, and enterprise flow to where they can have the most impact. At the same time, we recognise that immigration is a divisive subject, but the whole topic of talent migration is in danger of drifting into the wrong lane. This report, Passport to Progress, grabs the steering wheel and brings us back to a reasoned debate on the way forward. It provides powerful evidence; a comparative analysis of visa policy interventions that are working successfully, around the world, and it offers clear advice for changemakers on what we are doing well and what we could do better.”
It would be great if you could share our report far and wide (if it’s on social media use the hashtag #Passport2Progress so we can like and reshare it). If you missed the launch and don’t want to miss another, it's time to join us.
Taxing Times
We’re working with Enterprise Nation on a paper on tax simplification. We agree with HMRC’s now redundant tagline that ‘tax needn't be taxing’. If you do too, you can help us by filling in Enterprise Nation’s short survey. And if you’re a tax expert who wants to feed into the report, book 15 minutes in my diary next week to share your insights.
When You’re 64
Age isn’t just a number. We’re busy writing a paper on the untapped potential that older people can bring to the UK – as both entrepreneurs and employees. We are looking for case studies of founders. If you started your first business after the age of 50, get in touch.
Checking it Twice
Labour has been reshuffling. Perhaps most relevant for entrepreneurs is Peter Kyle becoming Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, but there are some interesting changes happening off the shadow front bench too.
With MPs back in Westminster, we’re busy planning events with politicians of all stripes, including the recently shuffled. If there is an MP who you think needs to hear from our entrepreneurs let our Head of Partnerships, Katrina Sale, know. We’ve got a very long list of our own, but we’re always open to your insights.
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