Car washes and vape shops can still sponsor skilled foreign workers despite visa changes
Despite tightened visa rules, over 1,900 small businesses like car washes and vape shops can still sponsor skilled foreign workers.Summary
BBC Verify found that more than 1,900 small high‑street businesses—including mini‑marts, vape shops and car washes—remain licensed to sponsor skilled foreign workers under the UK’s Skilled Worker scheme, even after July 2025 rules tightened to require graduate‑level pay of at least £41,700. The Home Office has warned that employers must not abuse the system, and has revoked licences for non‑compliant firms; a review was ordered after concerns over vape shops, barbers and car washes. While many businesses were added to the register before the rule change, some remain because they were approved earlier or are sponsoring workers already in the UK. The scheme, introduced post‑Brexit, allows employers to recruit overseas talent, but the new thresholds and English‑language requirements have cut approvals by 30% compared with the previous year.
(Source：BBC News)
