Morning, Wednesday, 2nd July 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for immigration policy in the UK.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to assess proposals in Government’s recently published Immigration White Paper, aiming to reduce international recruitment, including raising the Skilled Worker threshold, ending social care visas, altering the requirements for universities to recruit international students and reducing the length of time graduates can remain in the UK after completing their studies, amendments to family life criteria, the introduction of new English language requirements and increasing the qualifying period for settlement to 10 years.
We expect the agenda to bring out latest thinking on next steps for the points-based system, the impact of proposals in the White Paper, key considerations for employers, workforce planning and the higher education sector, as well as border security.
Sessions will draw on the White Paper’s proposals to support the domestic workforce and reduce international recruitment, with discussion on current immigration trends, priorities for the Migration Advisory Committee and Skills England in developing guidance on a joined-up approach to reducing net migration, as well as the role of the newly established Labour Market Evidence Group to scrutinise overseas recruitment and support domestic skills investment.
Delegates will consider strategic approaches to improving training for UK citizens as a way to reduce net migration, with the MAC finding in its 2024 annual report that home-grown workers are not always direct substitutes.
Approaches for coordination of joint working will be discussed, including between the MAC, government departments and bodies such as Skills England, Industrial Strategy Council, and as well as law enforcement agencies with proposed streamlined approaches to deportations. The overall impact of reducing net migration on the wider UK economy and economic growth will also be considered.
We also expect discussion on the impact of changes to immigration rules and how skills shortages in key sectors can be addressed in light of restrictions to visa routes, including health and social care, IT, construction and engineering. There will be discussion on strategies for strengthening eligibility to work checks, with new laws introduced requiring employers hiring gig economy workers to expand their illegal working checks, with further proposals announced to fully digitise the immigration system to support the change to eVisas and new biometric technologies.
Those attending will also focus on the impact of immigration reform on higher education financial sustainability, looking at the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for international students, with discussion on challenges for graduate recruitment and university funding, and the way forward for addressing dependence on international student fees in light of new proposals in the White Paper to alter the requirements for universities to recruit international students and the reduction of the length of time that international students can remain in the UK after completing their studies to 18 months.
Further sessions will examine wider policy proposals, including the recent introduction of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which proposes new criminal offences aimed at tackling immigration-related crime and gangs, and strengthening border security. Those attending will assess implications of proposals in the Bill on immigrants and the wider asylum system, with discussion on priorities and practicalities for addressing immigration-related crime, with concerns from some that measures in the Bill could lead to an increase in the number of refugees being prosecuted.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- policy: White Paper proposals and next steps for immigration reform - potential changes to the points-based system - priorities for the MAC, Skills England, and the ISC
- eVisas: transitioning to a fully digital immigration system - impact on migrants, employers, and public services - access and usability - addressing potential barriers for the digitally disadvantaged and data privacy concerns
- economic factors: implications of rising visa and naturalisation fees - visa category changes and impact on sector workforce planning - considerations for businesses and education adaptation
- workforce planning: coordinating immigration policy with domestic skills strategies - priorities for Skills England and other bodies in upskilling and reducing reliance on migrant labour
- labour market: addressing implications for sectors such as health and social care, hospitality, and IT - domestic workforce development priorities - planning for reduced reliance on migrant labour - impact of abolishing the Immigration Salary List
- higher education: UK attractiveness as a destination for international students - challenges for student recruitment and university funding - addressing dependence on international student fees
- border security: priorities for managing borders and controlling migration - effectiveness of enforcement policies - balancing security with human rights considerations
- modern slavery: impact of reforms on protections against modern slavery - latest thinking on tackling exploitation in high-risk sectors - safeguarding vulnerable migrants and asylum seekers
- integration: impact of immigration policies on community cohesion and access to healthcare, housing, and education - addressing barriers to support - ensuring effective welfare provision
- alternative approaches for policy: considering non-UK approaches - assessing potential options for greater flexibility and responsiveness in the immigration framework
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords and officials from the Home Office; MAC; FCDO; MHCLG; DHSC; DBT; DSIT; DfE; DAERA, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; DCEDIY, ROI; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
