The new immigration plan announced this week by Kiel could add even more complexity as the UK events industry continues to tackle staffing shortages and post-Brexit workforce challenges.
The Labour Government whitepaper sets out a proposal to “significantly” reduce the internet transition, aiming to reverse the record numbers seen in recent years. The move is designed to address public concerns about the level of immigration, but has sparked new debates about the potential impact on sectors that rely on foreign talent.
So what measures are included, what this means for the events industry, and how will companies prepare for future changes?
Tighten the requirements for skilled workers visas
The eligibility threshold for skilled workers visas increases from A level to degree level qualification. The change could eliminate approximately 180 job roles from eligibility and reduce approximately 39,000 per year by 2029.
The event sector often relies on skilled workers such as lighting engineers, sound engineers and stage managers. This change can exacerbate existing skills shortages and makes staff events more effective and challenging.
A longer residency awaits
Immigrants usually need to live in the UK for 10 years before applying for the right to stay indefinitely. It’s twice as many as the current five years. Under the plan, this period can be reduced through a new “acquisition settlement” system where people are awarded the points that people are awarded to reflect their contribution to the UK’s “economy and society.”
It could prevent skilled workers from committing to long-term careers in the UK, reduce workforce stability and increase the chances of exacerbating existing recruitment challenges. Without residential safety, the retention of experienced staff could decrease as workers turn to countries with more accessible settlement routes. The uncertainty surrounding the proposed “earned settlement” system creates an administrative burden and can also complicate employer workforce plans.
More strict rules for students
Overseas graduates can currently only stay in the UK for 18 months after studying, not two years.
The Minister is also considering charging English universities a new 6% tax on tuition fee income from international students. The government expects this to be handed over to international students in the form of higher fees, saying it will cut 7,000 applications a year.
Approximately 54% of students enrolled in the UK Event Management Degree Program are international students. However, recent trends already predict a sharp decline in registrations.
Many students use post-study work periods to gain experience in sectors such as events that benefit from language skills, cultural insights, and technical expertise. A shorter window may limit the opportunity to move into a full-time role, while a higher fee may completely block future students, especially those considering creative and event-related courses.
This could lead to fewer young, skilled professionals entering the UK workforce and strengthen existing labor shortages within the event sector. Reducing international students could lead to reduced diversity and smaller talent pools, which could impact industry growth and innovation.
More rigorous English test
While the language requirements for all work visas increase under the plan, adult dependents of visa holders are necessary to demonstrate a basic understanding of English to come to the spouse and partner route. The government has said these extended visas are required to demonstrate a higher level of English when applying to settle in the UK.
Increasing the language thresholds can reduce the number of eligible candidates, especially for behind-the-scenes roles where flowability is less important to work performance. Requiring a higher level of English for reconciliation may discourage long-term commitments from skilled workers who may feel uncertain about meeting evolving language benchmarks. While improving communications can benefit workplace efficiency, additional barriers can reduce the talent pool and increase recruitment challenges, especially for small event businesses with fewer resources to support language training and visa compliance.
Skills and Training:
Under the plan, the government says companies in the sector that are deemed too dependent on overseas workers are expected to “abide” with strategies to improve workplace skills.
The event industry is not explicitly listed, but given its historical dependence on international labor, it could fall into scrutiny. Linking skills training to the visa system can increase management and financial pressure on the event business, particularly small and medium-sized businesses. However, if properly supported, this move could help promote investment in domestic talent and build a more sustainable workforce.
Relaxing restrictions for some
The government plans to strengthen immigration rules in many areas, but also aims to ease restrictions on certain groups, including graduates from elite overseas universities and scientific or design talent.
For the event industry, this could offer modest benefits in attracting high-level professionals, especially in areas such as event technology, creative direction and production design. The global talent visa expansion and the more accessible startup visa route could encourage entrepreneurial graduates to launch innovative event concepts and technology-driven solutions in the UK. However, this policy covers highly skilled demographics in niches, making it likely that the workforce is limited.
As details of Labour’s immigration proposal continue to emerge, some sectors may benefit from targeted visa expansions, but it is clear that the events industry could face fresh hurdles. From stricter skilled workers standards and shorter post-student visas to increased English requirements and longer residential waits, the integrated effects can deepen existing labor shortages and disrupt the ability to attract and retain industry talent.
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