Hiring and Sponsoring Environment professionals (SOC Code 2152)

Environment Professionals, classified under SOC Code 2152, are essential figures in safeguarding the natural world through their expertise in assessing and addressing environmental issues. Their role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Identifying contamination of land, air, or water and evaluating the adverse impacts on the environment.
• Advising on solutions for mitigating the effects of such contamination and implementing necessary remediation works.
• Conducting extensive research, both desk-based and fieldwork, to collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data to assess its validity and significance.
• Executing or assisting in environmental audits and environmental impact assessments to ensure compliance and sustainable practices.
• Communicating scientific and technical information to relevant stakeholders through reports, workshops, educational events, and public hearings.
• Assisting organizations in conducting their activities in an environmentally responsible manner, thereby promoting sustainability.
• Reviewing and advising on regulatory and legislative standards, guidelines, and policies that affect environmental practices.
• Providing professional guidance to clients, government agencies, regulators, and other relevant bodies, emphasizing sound and sustainable approaches.

Given the increasing focus on environmental conservation and sustainability, the demand for skilled Environment Professionals is on the rise. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring these vital experts under the UK's immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Environment professionals?

SOC Code 2152 refers to environment professionals who work to identify and address contamination in land, air, or water. Their responsibilities can include:

• Identifying contamination: Detecting and assessing pollution and its adverse impacts on the environment.
• Advising on mitigation: Providing solutions to reduce the effects of environmental contamination.
• Implementing remediation works: Carrying out projects to restore contaminated sites and improve environmental quality.
• Conducting research: Performing desk-based research and fieldwork to collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data.
• Carrying out audits: Assisting in environmental audits and conducting environmental impact assessments.
• Communicating findings: Presenting scientific and technical information effectively to diverse audiences through reports, workshops, educational events, and public hearings.
• Promoting sustainable practices: Helping organizations operate in an environmentally responsible manner.
• Advising on regulations: Implementing, reviewing, and advising on environmental laws, guidelines, and policies.
• Providing professional guidance: Offering expert advice to clients, government agencies, and regulators with a focus on sustainable solutions.

Environment professionals play a vital role in safeguarding environmental health, advocating for sustainable practices, and enhancing the quality of life in communities.

Eligibility to Hire Environment professionals (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Environment professionals seeking opportunities in this field must demonstrate their expertise and meet certain qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Educational Background: A degree in environmental science, engineering, or a related field is often required, with advanced degrees being advantageous.
• Professional Experience: Demonstrable experience in environmental assessment, remediation projects, or related fieldwork, including familiarity with industry standards and best practices.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation, environmental monitoring techniques, and knowledge of relevant environmental laws and regulations.
• Research Capabilities: Experience in conducting desk-based research, field studies, and environmental audits, showcasing the ability to assess contamination and its impacts effectively.
• Communication Skills: Ability to convey complex scientific information clearly to diverse audiences through reports, presentations, and public engagement events.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with regulatory and legislative standards, guidelines, and the ability to implement and advise on sustainable management practices.
• Professional Guidance: Capacity to provide informed advice to clients, government agencies, and regulatory bodies, emphasizing environmentally responsible solutions.

Ensure that the job description aligns with SOC Code 2152 and that the candidate's experience and work meet the expectations for the role.

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

Sponsoring Environment professionals: 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 Environment professionals under SOC Code 2152.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Environment professionals, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Environment professionals 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 Environment professionals. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Environment professionals 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 Environment professionals’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 Environment professionals 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 Environment professionals

Before the Environment professionals 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 Environment professionals’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Environment professionals 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 Environment professionals’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Environment professionals’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 Environment professionalss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Environment professionals

Sponsoring Environment professionals under SOC Code 2152 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 Environment professionals, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Environment professionals under SOC Code 2152 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.