The UK is open to exceptional talent

Exceptional researchers and academics

World‑class research opportunities with funding across all career stages, including UKRIopens www.ukri.org in a new tab and National Academy fellowships and access to Horizon Europe grantsopens www.ukri.org in a new tab, part of a wider £5 billion UK government research talent offer.

Innovators and entrepreneurs

Innovate UKopens www.ukri.org in a new tab (IUK) innovation funding opportunities, scale up finance through British Business Bankopens www.british-business-bank.co.uk in a new tab (BBB) and export support through UK Export Financeopens www.ukexportfinance.gov.uk in a new tab (UKEF), alongside expert mentoring and coaching for scale-ups through the Global Entrepreneur programme (GEP).

Investors and High net worth individuals

Competitive tax incentives for investment, Office for Investmentopens www.gov.uk in a new tab (OfI) support, new UK Listing Taskforce, Financial Concierge service for investorsopens www.gov.uk in a new tab and Global Talent Taskforce.

Global Talent visaopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

For recognised leaders or potential future leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. Endorsement is required from an approved Global Talent endorsing body (unless the individual is the recipient of an eligible prestigious prize).

Innovator Founder visaopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

For individuals looking to set up an innovative business in the UK with a business idea that has been approved by an Innovator Founder endorsing body.

High Potential Individual visaopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

For graduates from eligible international universities to work in the UK for up to 3 years. No company sponsorship is required but you must be able to demonstrate you can financially support yourself.

Skilled Worker visaopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

For skilled individuals receiving sponsorship from an approved UK business to work for that company in the UK. Eligibility criteria applies for the salary and type of job you will be doing.

Senior or Specialist Worker visaopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

For existing employees (senior managers or specialist workers) with sponsorship from an approved business to work in a UK branch of that business. Eligibility criteria applies around the type of job you will be doing and the salary.

UK Expansion Worker visaopens www.gov.uk in a new tab

For individuals looking to come to the UK to setup the first UK branch of an approved overseas business that is not already trading in the UK. You must already work for that business as either a senior manager or specialist employee (unless you earn a certain salary).

1st​

The most attractive location for investment in Europe as ranked by global CEOs (2025).¹

£9 billion

to be added to the UK economy by 2040 through the UK-EU trade deal.²

2 of top 5​

world-leading science and technology clusters (by population density) – Cambridge and Oxford (2025).³

£86 billion​

R&D investment into UK Industrial strategy sectors (2026 to 2030).⁴

4 of top 10

universities worldwide are in the UK (2026).⁵

1st​

globally for broadest geographic reach of international flows of trade, capital information and people.⁶

BioNTech announced £1 billion over the next 10 years in R&D in innovative medicinesopens investors.biontech.de in a new tab​.

Amazon have £40 billion planned in investment to expand their presence in the UKopens www.reuters.com in a new tab.

J.P. Morgan plan to build a landmark European HQ in Canary Wharfopens www.gov.uk in a new tab.

Sumitomo Corporation are backing clean energy industries with £7.5 billion investment.opens www.gov.uk in a new tab

Blackstone are aiming to invest over £100 billion in assets in the UK over the next 10 yearsopens www.gov.uk in a new tab​.

Nvidia pledged £2 billion to catalyse the UK's AI start-up ecosystemopens investor.nvidia.com in a new tab.