Hiring and Sponsoring Web design professionals (SOC Code 2141)

Web Design Professionals, classified under SOC Code 2141, are skilled experts who play a crucial role in creating and maintaining visually appealing and functional websites and applications. Their responsibilities encompass a range of activities:

• Client Liaison: Engage with internal and external clients to accurately define and gather requirements for websites and applications.
• Design Presentation: Present and discuss design options with clients to ensure alignment with their vision and objectives.
• Web Page Design: Create web pages and applications that incorporate graphics, animation, and other functionalities to enhance visual effectiveness.
• User Accessibility: Design user interfaces aimed at maximizing usability and facilitating seamless access to information.
• Database Integration: Develop web interfaces for relational database systems, ensuring smooth interaction between users and data.

As digital presence becomes increasingly vital for businesses, the demand for skilled web design professionals continues to rise, prompting many organizations to look beyond national borders for talented individuals. This guide will assist HR professionals in understanding the process of hiring and sponsoring web design professionals under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Web design professionals?

SOC Code 2141 refers to web design professionals who specialize in creating and developing websites and applications. Their responsibilities can include:

• Liaising with clients: Collaborating with internal and external clients to define the requirements for websites or applications.
• Presenting design options: Showing various design alternatives to clients to meet their needs and preferences.
• Designing web pages and applications: Creating visually appealing web pages that include graphics, animations, and functionalities to enhance user experience.
• Maximizing visual effectiveness: Ensuring that designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also facilitate appropriate access and usability.
• Designing web interfaces: Developing user-friendly interfaces for relational database systems to optimize interaction and data management.

Web design professionals play a vital role in the digital landscape, enhancing online communication, user engagement, and overall accessibility of information.

Eligibility to Hire Web design professionals (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Web design professionals must demonstrate their technical skills and meet specific qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in web design tools and software, such as Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and responsive design frameworks.
• Client Liaison: Experience in collaborating with internal and external clients to understand their requirements and present design options effectively.
• Design Portfolio: A collection of completed web design projects showcasing creativity, functionality, and user experience.
• Exhibition of Work: Evidence of previous projects, showcasing design versatility and problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios.
• Education: A degree in web design, graphic design, computer science, or a related field is preferred but not mandatory; practical experience and a robust portfolio may also be considered.
• Understanding of Database Design: Ability to design web interfaces that effectively connect with relational database systems to ensure seamless user interaction.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 2141 and that the web designer'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 Web design 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 Web design professionals under SOC Code 2141.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Web design 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 Web design 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 Web design 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 Web design professionals

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

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Web design professionals

Sponsoring Web design professionals under SOC Code 2141 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 Web design professionals, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Web design professionals under SOC Code 2141 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.