Hiring and Sponsoring Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers (SOC Code 5315)

Plumbers and Heating and Ventilating Installers and Repairers, classified under SOC Code 5315, are skilled trades professionals essential to the construction and maintenance of plumbing systems and heating and ventilation units. Their work is critical in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, where proper installation and repair of heating, plumbing, and ventilating systems ensure efficiency and safety. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Examining drawings and specifications to determine layout of systems.
• Measuring and cutting required lengths of materials such as copper, lead, steel, iron, aluminium, or plastic using various hand or machine tools.
• Installing fittings including storage tanks, cookers, baths, toilets, taps, valves, refrigerators, boilers, heat pumps, radiators, and fires.
• Testing completed installations for leaks and making necessary adjustments for optimal functionality.
• Attaching fittings and joining piping by welding, soldering, cementing, fusing, screwing, or other methods.
• Repairing burst pipes and addressing mechanical and combustion faults, as well as replacing faulty taps, washers, valves, and more.

As the demand for skilled plumbers and heating and ventilating installers continues to rise in the UK, this guide will assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring these vital tradespeople under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers?

SOC Code 5315 refers to plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers who are essential in ensuring the functionality and efficiency of plumbing and heating systems. Their responsibilities can include:

• Examining drawings and specifications: Analyzing plans to determine the layout of plumbing and heating systems.
• Measuring and cutting materials: Accurately sizing and cutting lengths of various pipes such as copper, lead, steel, iron, aluminium, or plastic using hand or machine tools.
• Installing fittings: Setting up essential household and industrial fixtures, including storage tanks, cookers, baths, toilets, taps, valves, refrigerators, boilers, heat pumps, radiators, and fires.
• Testing installations: Checking completed systems for leaks and making necessary adjustments to ensure optimal performance.
• Attaching fittings and joining piping: Using methods such as welding, soldering, cementing, fusing, and screwing to securely connect various components.
• Repairing and maintaining systems: Addressing issues like burst pipes and mechanical or combustion faults, along with replacing faulty taps, washers, and valves.

Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers play a pivotal role in maintaining safe and efficient living and working environments, contributing to public health and safety.

Eligibility to Hire Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers must demonstrate technical skills and meet certain qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Technical skills: Proficient in reading and interpreting blueprints, drawings, and specifications to determine system layout.
• Experience: Proven experience in installing and repairing plumbing and heating systems, with a focus on various materials including copper, lead, steel, iron, aluminum, or plastic.
• Installation skills: Strong ability to install fittings such as storage tanks, cookers, baths, toilets, taps and valves, refrigerators, boilers, heat pumps, radiators, and fires.
• Testing and problem-solving: Capable of testing completed installations for leaks and making necessary adjustments to ensure optimal functionality.
• Joinery skills: Proficient in attaching fittings and joining piping through various methods such as welding, soldering, cementing, fusing, and screwing.
• Maintenance and repair: Experience in repairing burst pipes, addressing mechanical and combustion faults, and replacing faulty taps, washers, and valves.

All applicants should ensure their experience and work align with SOC Code 5315 and meet the expectations for the role.

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

Sponsoring Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating  installers and repairers under SOC Code 5315.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating  installers 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers

Before the Plumbers and heating and ventilating  installers 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating  installers and repairerss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers

Sponsoring Plumbers and heating and ventilating  installers and repairers under SOC Code 5315 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 Plumbers and heating and ventilating  installers and repairers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Plumbers and heating and ventilating  installers and repairers under SOC Code 5315 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.