On the face of it, the expansion of the Seasonal Worker scheme to cover HGV drivers appears to be a welcome development, although it remains to be seen how many HGV drivers will apply to come to the UK. However, upon closer examination of the details, this is not as generous as the government might have people believe. Firstly, the scheme is limited to haulage driving roles involving transportation of food goods and not the transportation of other products.

Further, this is a short-term scheme, primarily to support businesses with food deliveries in the run up to Christmas. However, the UK supply chain is clearly facing long-term pressures in a number of areas which look likely to continue well into 2022. The HGV driver scheme is unfortunately therefore quite narrow in its application and is time limited. The application deadline of 1 December 2021 is fast approaching. It also only gives individuals the right to be in the UK to work in these roles until 28 February 2022.

Further, businesses are unable to sponsor and employ these HGV drivers directly themselves. Instead businesses will need to enter into an agreement with one of the Home Office approved operators who will then supply HGV drivers to the business. 

Further details

The Home Office has recently published further details about the emergency temporary immigration scheme for HGV drivers.

Essentially, the government has expanded the current Seasonal Worker scheme so that it also covers individuals coming to the UK to undertake haulage driving roles involving the transportation of food goods. The scheme opened on 11 October 2021.

HGV food drivers wishing to apply under the scheme must have an HGV licence recognised for use in the UK. The scheme only applies to EU, EEA and Swiss licence holders. They must hold a HGV (category C or C+E) licence. Temporary visas are available for 4,700 food HGV drivers.

Individual HGV drivers will need to be engaged and sponsored by one of the Home Office approved scheme operators. These are AG Recruitment, Concordia, Fruitful Jobs and Pro-Force. Businesses will then need to register with that operator and, if approved, the operator can then supply HGV drivers to the business. The process varies for each operator.

HGV drivers wishing to come to the UK under this scheme must submit their application before 1 December 2021. If their application is successful they will be granted permission to stay in the UK until 28 February 2022.