The Heritage Alliance has responded to The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)’s call for evidence to advise the Government on the likely economic and social impacts of the UK’s exit from the European Union, and on how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy.
Our key asks for Government are to ensure that:
- the heritage sector has continued access to skilled labour from EEA countries;
- exemptions for accredited heritage experts and academics;
- any new visa system should allow the UK to export its archaeological, buildings conservation and museum expertise and, where necessary import skills from the EEA where skills are not available in the UK;
- any new visa system should not be dependent on income levels;
- swift access to visas or the research equivalent of a diplomatic passport for heritage specialists;
- Government commitment to support training and apprenticeships in the UK for heritage skills;
- Construction-related occupations facing high demand, including heritage craft and building skills (e.g. stonemasonry) and archaeology, are placed on the UK Shortage Occupations List; and
- Free movement of archaeologists and other heritage specialists across the Irish border is protected.