Hiring and Sponsoring Boat and ship builders and repairers (SOC Code 5235)

Boat and Ship Builders and Repairers, classified under SOC Code 5235, are skilled tradespeople involved in the construction, maintenance, and repair of marine vessels. Their expertise ensures the safety and performance of boats and ships, contributing to the maritime industry. Key responsibilities include:

• Reviewing Drawings and Specifications:
• Examining detailed drawings and specifications to determine job requirements.
• Metal Plate Preparation:  
• • Marking out metal plate using tools such as rules, scribes, and punches.
  • Cutting metal plates using appropriate tools according to specifications.
• Machining and Fabrication:
• Utilizing machine tools to bend, curve, punch, drill, and straighten metal plates as required.
  • Positioning and aligning metal platework or frames for welding and bolting.
  • Riveting together metal plates and girders, and sealing seams to ensure structural integrity.
• Woodwork and Fittings:  
• • Selecting and measuring appropriate wood, cutting, shaping, and drilling to specifications with saws, planes, chisels, and both power and hand tools.
  • Aligning and fixing prepared wood pieces by screwing, nailing, gluing, and doweling to create decking and interiors of small wooden marine craft.
• Maintenance and Repairs:
• Maintaining and repairing woodwork and fittings to ensure optimal functionality and aesthetics.

With the ongoing demand for skilled boat and ship builders and repairers in the UK’s maritime sector, many organizations are looking to source talent both locally and internationally. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in the hiring and sponsorship process under the UK immigration system for this specialized role.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Boat and ship builders and repairers?

SOC Code 5235 refers to boat and ship builders and repairers who construct and maintain various types of marine vessels. Their responsibilities can include:

• Examining drawings and specifications: Analyzing technical documents to determine job requirements and project parameters.
• Marking and cutting metal plates: Using rules, scribes, and punches to mark out metal plates, followed by cutting using appropriate tools.
• Machining metal components: Utilizing machine tools to bend, curve, punch, drill, and straighten metal plates as necessary.
• Welding and bolting: Positioning and aligning metal platework or frames for welding and securing with bolts.
• Riveting and sealing: Joining metal plates and girders, sealing seams, smoothing welds, and fixing metal doors, collars, portholes, and hatch covers.
• Wood selection and shaping: Choosing and measuring suitable wood, then cutting, shaping, and drilling to specifications utilizing saws, planes, chisels, and other tools.
• Assembling wood components: Aligning and securing prepared wood pieces together through screwing, nailing, gluing, and dowelling to create decking and interiors of small wooden marine craft.
• Maintenance and repairs: Conducting upkeep and repairs on woodwork and fittings to ensure ongoing functionality and safety.

Boat and ship builders and repairers play a vital role in the maritime industry, ensuring the safety and integrity of vessels while contributing to the economy and transportation sectors.

Eligibility to Hire Boat and ship builders and repairers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Boat and ship builders and repairers must possess specific skills and qualifications to effectively perform their duties. Applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in interpreting drawings and specifications to accurately determine job requirements.
• Metal Work Expertise: Ability to use various tools to cut, bend, drill, and shape metal plates, ensuring precision in positioning and alignment for welding and bolting tasks.
• Welding and Riveting Skills: Experience in riveting metal plates and girders, sealing seams, and smoothing welds to maintain structural integrity.
• Woodworking Proficiency: Competence in selecting, measuring, and shaping wood, as well as performing tasks using both power and hand tools.
• Assembly Skills: Capability to align and secure prepared wood pieces through screwing, nailing, gluing, and dowelling to construct decking and interiors for marine crafts.
• Maintenance and Repair Abilities: Experience in maintaining and repairing woodwork and fittings to ensure longevity and functionality.

Ensure that the job description aligns with SOC Code 5235 and that the candidate’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Boat and ship builders and repairers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Boat and ship builders and repairers under SOC Code 5235.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Boat and ship builders and repairers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Boat and ship builders and repairers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Boat and ship builders and repairers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Boat and ship builders and repairers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Boat and ship builders and repairers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Boat and ship builders and repairers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Boat and ship builders and repairers

Before the Boat and ship builders and repairers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Boat and ship builders and repairers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Boat and ship builders and repairers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Boat and ship builders and repairers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Boat and ship builders and repairers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Boat and ship builders and repairerss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Boat and ship builders and repairers

Sponsoring Boat and ship builders and repairers under SOC Code 5235 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Boat and ship builders and repairers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Boat and ship builders and repairers under SOC Code 5235 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.