Capital City Partnership is hosting this session with expert speakers and providing a networking space to explore issues around immigration, UK visa schemes and employability.

Join us for an event addressing the complex issues surrounding immigration, the right to work and UK Sponsorship Visa challenges faced by local employers as well as skilled foreign nationals in Edinburgh.

Capital City Partnership, the anchor delivery body for Edinburgh’s employability strategy, working together to tackle inequality and poverty. This event is designed to encourage open conversations and explore practical solutions.

Speakers include:

Keynote speaker:Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian region and co-leader of Scottish Green Party. Slater is a member of the Economy and Fair Work Committee and the Scottish Green Party spokesperson on Economy and Fair Work.She has worked as an engineer in the renewables energy sector for some time, most recently as a project manager in the construction of the world’s biggest tidal turbine in Dundee.She was previously the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.

Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost, The City of Edinburgh.

Mark Templeton, Director and Head of Immigration in the Employment, Immigration and Pensions Team at Anderson Strathern. Mark acts for public sector organisations, businesses and private individuals, helping them to navigate the UK’s complex immigration system.

Simon Raeside, Employer and Alumni Engagement Adviser, University of Edinburgh Careers Service. Simon has a background in project management, systems and business development gained via work in international development and cultural relations.

Dr Sarah Kyambi, Director, Migration Policy Scotland. Sarah is a migration policy expert with over 20 years' experience in the field. She worked on migration for think tanks in London, Brussels and Edinburgh before founding Migration Policy Scotland in 2021 to meet the need for greater migration policy capacity in Scotland.

Calum Nicol, Talent Acquisition Manager, Signature Group. Calum oversees the end-to-end recruitment process for Signature Group. He has a strong understanding of the UKVI having sponsored people from, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, and Nepal.

Agenda:

9.30 am – 10am - Arrival registration, tea & coffee

10am- 10.20am - Welcome and recorded address from Tom Arthur, MSP

10.20am – 11.30am - Speakers

11.30am – 12pm - Guest speakers with lived experiences

12pm - 1pm - Lunch and networking

1pm - 1.50pm - Speakers

1.50pm – 2pm - Closing notes

2pm – 3pm (Optional) - Networking opportunity with key industry figures and members of Edinburgh Business community, stakeholder organisations and session attendees.

Who Should Attend:

Local business and enterprise owners, Business Development Directors and Trustees,

Talent Managers and HR professionals,

Sector Specific Experts,

Policymakers and community leaders interested in employability and diversity,

Stakeholder Organisations.

This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with industry experts, gain knowledge, and explore practical strategies that can help bridge the gap between employers and skilled foreign national candidates in Edinburgh.

We would appreciate that if you have booked a space and are unable to attend, to let us know as soon as possible.

The event will be recorded, and recordings of each speaker will be available on the JUFB website.

If you are facing any issues with Eventbrite, please contact Aiseosa at aiseosa.erhahon@capitalcitypartnership.org.

Navigating Employment Barriers: Immigration and UK Visa Sponsorship