Information for UK nationals moving to or living in Sweden, including guidance on residency, healthcare, passports, and the Withdrawal Agreement.

What you should do

• Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip
• Register as a resident in Sweden
• Exchange your UK driving licence for a Swedish one

Visas, Residency and Entry Requirements

Residency

 There will be no change in residency rules or registration procedures if you arrive in Sweden before or on 31 December 2020. If you are resident in Sweden before or on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

If there are changes to residency registration processes, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.
If you plan to live in Sweden for more than 1 year, you must register with the Swedish Population Register. The Swedish authorities will issue you an ID number (personnummer).
You can only register if you have a right of residence (uppehållsrätt) for a year or more and comprehensive travel insurance. Under the Withdrawal Agreement, you will automatically have this right if you can support yourself, either by work or by other independent means, or you are studying.
You will not be able to register if you are still looking for a job when you come to Sweden and or do not meet other requirements for residency.
If you’re planning to move as a dependent to a family member who lives in Sweden you must apply for a residence permit.

Passports and travel

The rules on travel will stay the same until the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to travel to countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

Passports from 1 January 2021

From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Sweden, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra month may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

Entry requirements

Visas

If you hold a British Citizen passport, you do not need a visa to enter Sweden. If you’re planning a stay of longer than 3 months.The rules on travel will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

Visas from 1 January 2021

The rules for travelling or working in Europe will change from 1 January 2021:

• You will be able to travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism. This is a rolling 180-day period.
• Therefore, if you’re travelling to Sweden, previous visits to the Schengen area within the 180 days before your date of travel would count against the 90-day limit.
• If you are travelling visa-free to Sweden and to other countries in the Schengen area, make sure your whole visit is within the limit.
• To stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel you will need to meet the entry requirements set out by Sweden. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You should check with the Swedish Embassy what type of visa, if any, you will need.
• Periods of stay authorised under a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit.

The European Commission has not yet set out how the limit of 90 days in any 180-day period for visa-free travel will be implemented for those who are already travelling in the EU or Schengen Area on 31 December 2020.

If you are travelling to Sweden before 31 December 2020 and will stay until 1 January 2021 or later, you should check with the Swedish Embassy for information on how the 90-day visa-free limit will apply to you. This also applies if your stay includes travel to other Schengen area countries.

At border control for Sweden, you may need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay
• use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing
• Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit.

Driving in Sweden

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020. If you are a resident in Sweden, you should exchange your UK licence for a Swedish one. You can still use your Swedish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

Healthcare

If you are living in Sweden or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Sweden as you do now, provided you remain resident.

State healthcare: S1

If you live in Sweden and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Sweden, you must not use your EHIC from the UK to access healthcare in Sweden. When you travel to Sweden for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.
Working and studying in Sweden. If you are registered as a resident in Sweden you have the right to work in Sweden.

If you are resident in Sweden on or before 31 December 2020, your right to work will stay the same, as long as you remain resident. You should check the Swedish Migration Agency website for information on when and how UK nationals can apply for a work permit.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Sweden to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Sweden have not changed.

National Insurance

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

Banking

Most people living in Europe should not see any change to their banking after 31 December 2020. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.

Pensions after 31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.
If you are living in Sweden by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Sweden, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Swedish pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after 31 December 2020. If you are considering moving to Sweden on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change.

If you are considering moving to Sweden on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Tell the Swedish and UK authorities if you are planning to return to the UK permanently.If you get healthcare in Sweden through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to cancel your S1 at the right time.

Original Source: GOV.UK

Since its creation in 1995 Java has been a leading programming language due to its unique features, as Java isn’t confined to any processor or computer, which allows it to be used for cross-platform applications, such as web applications and server-side code. Now Java is the most used language for writing Android apps, as well as its widely used for cloud applications, machine-learning environments and IoT.

To become a professional Java developer a wide range of skills is required with a comprehensive understanding of the basics and latest developments.

Apart the language itself, Java developers also must know how the development process works and how to navigate the environments in which the code runs.

Some of the skills include hibernation, API, eclipse, JPA with very essential skills of Java development tools, primarily Maven and Gradle. Additionally a good Java must have a thorough knowledge of CSS, HTML,  jQuery, and JavaScript, and know how to works with Java development frameworks, such as MVC play, Java Server, etc.

Are Java developers in demand?

Despite of the competition from new languages, Java remains one of the most-in-demand programming languages in the IT industry, including IT industry in Sweden. Apart from the IT industry Java developers are also in high demand in  Automotive industry, Engineering, Banking and Consulting Industries. 

Salaries for Java developers in Sweden

The salary of a Java Developer usually depends on experience, skills, seniority and location. However, on average a Java Developers in Sweden earns around 50,600 SEK per month. Salaries range from 23,800 SEK (lowest) to 80,000 SEK (highest). While, contract rates can vary from 550 SEK to 900 SEK per hour.

If you are an experieced Java Developer looking for a contract job in Sweden feel free to share with us your CV by registering it on our website.

You might also be interested in checking our latest Java Developer openings, please find links below:

Software Python Developer C++ Java Contract Job Sweden 

Senior Java Developer Contract Job Gothenburg

Android Software Developer Contract Job Sweden 

Boris Johnson announced the plan for the uk to become the world’s leader in clean wind energy, which will also result in creating more jobs, slashing carbon emissions and boosting exports.

£160 million will be made available to upgrade ports and infrastructure across communities like in teesside and humber in northern england, scotland and wales to hugely increase our offshore wind capacity, which is already the largest in the world and currently meets 10 per cent of our electricity demand.

This new investment will see around 2,000 construction jobs rapidly created and will enable the sector to support up to 60,000 jobs directly and indirectly by 2030 in ports, factories and the supply chains, manufacturing the next-generation of offshore wind turbines and delivering clean energy to the uk.

Through this, uk businesses including smaller suppliers will be well-placed to win orders and further investment from energy companies around the world and increase their competitive standing on the global stage, as well as supporting low-carbon supply chains.

The prime minister has also set out further commitments to ensure that, within the decade, the uk will be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution as we accelerate our progress towards net zero emissions by 2050.

These include:

• Confirming offshore wind will produce more than enough electricity to power every home in the country by 2030, based on current electricity usage, boosting the government’s previous 30gw target to 40gw.
• Creating a new target for floating offshore wind to deliver 1gw of energy by 2030, which is over 15 times the current volumes worldwide. building on the strengths of our north sea, this brand new technology allows wind farms to be built further out to sea in deeper waters, boosting capacity even further where winds are strongest and ensuring the uk remains at the forefront of the next generation of clean energy.
• Setting a target to support up to double the capacity of renewable energy in the next contracts for difference auction, which will open in late 2021 - providing enough clean, low cost energy to power up to 10 million homesThese commitments are the first stage outlined as part of the prime minister’s ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution, which will be set out fully later this year. this is expected to include ambitious targets and major investment into industries, innovation and infrastructure that will accelerate the uk’s path to net zero by 2050.

Prime Minister said:

Our seas hold immense potential to power our homes and communities with low-cost green energy and we are already leading the way in harnessing its strengths.

Now, as we build back better we must build back greener. so we are committing to new ambitious targets and investment into wind power to accelerate our progress towards net zero emissions by 2050.

This sets us on our path towards a green industrial revolution, which will provide tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs.

Together with planned stringent requirements on supporting uk manufacturers in government-backed renewables projects, these measures will mean the industry can reach its target of 60% of offshore wind farm content coming from the uk.

Business and energy secretary Alok Sharma said:

The offshore wind sector is a major british success story, providing cheap, green electricity while supporting thousands of good-quality jobs.

Powering every home in the country through offshore wind is hugely ambitious, but it’s exactly this kind of ambition which will mean we can build back greener and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Today’s announcement marks the latest stage of the government’s support for renewable energy. last september the third round of the contracts for difference renewable energy auction delivered record-low prices on enough clean energy to power 7 million homes. earlier this year the government announced the next round would be open to onshore wind and solar projects for the first time since 2015.

The UK has the largest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world, with around 10gw in operation off its coasts.

The government’s plan for renewable energy forms part of wider efforts to ensure the uk meets its legally binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and build back greener from coronavirus.

Over the past decade, the uk has cut carbon emissions by more than any similar developed country. in 2019, uk emissions were 42 per cent lower than in 1990, while our economy over the same period grew by 72 per cent.

Hugh Mcneal, CEO of Renewableuk, said:

The government has raised the ambition for offshore wind and renewables, and our industry is ready to meet the challenge. a green recovery with renewables at its heart will be good for consumers and jobs, as well as helping to meet our 2050 net zero emissions target. support for new floating wind projects will ensure the uk stays at the forefront of global innovation in renewables, and provides new opportunities in the low carbon transition.

As data suggests recent Covid-19 has become a driving force behind an increasing demand for Electric Vehicle and an E-Mobility trend.

According to Kersten Heineke, the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility in Europe, “Covid is going to be an accelerator for the transition to more sustainable mobility”.

Government regulations, lower vehicle costs, more expansive charging networks, and an overall superior customer experience are all driving the growth of electric vehicles (EVs).

The supply chain for EVs is much simpler than for gasoline vehicles, using only about 3,000 to 10,000 parts per vehicle, down from the 30,000 needed vehicles with a traditional powertrain. All the major automakers have committed publicly to an electric future. All of this means that a shift away from internal combustion engines and toward EVs will increase the 2 million or so EVs sold in 2018 by a factor of 10 in the coming decade.

Such innovation will have massive impact on technology companies. Electrification is not just about the car and its components but it involves a great number of other parties to be involved, including battery chemistry, the battery makers, the automakers, the charging infrastructure, the smart energy grid and even the very source of power generation.

It is essential to make each part of this chain to be sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethical. For the battery itself, which depends on analog technology to manage battery formation and test, precision battery management, isolation, powertrain inversion and energy storage, this also means ethical practices even for the battery chemistry.

That is the reason why a trend for battery chemistries will raise, such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which is not only cheaper and safer than other chemistries, but is zero cobalt, meaning it totally avoids the ethical issues surrounding cobalt mining.

Additionally, 1/3 of the cost of an electric car comes from the battery itself, which means the battery is then not just the determining factor governing the range of the vehicle, it’s actually a valuable asset in the vehicle. What does the industry do with that asset? One approach is to develop technology that leads the battery life cycle “journey” all the way from battery formation through its second life.

For example, the useful life of the battery is defined by several factors that goes beyond of its production. What were the precise conditions during cell formation? How carefully was the cell handled at the warehouse, during transportation and during battery-pack manufacturing and assembly? What were the conditions during its operation in the vehicle and over the road?

Technology is developed to understand the state of health of the battery cell through operation to determine how the battery cell might be used in second-life applications, for instance powering an airport shuttle, a forklift or an electric bike, storing energy from renewable sources like wind and solar or ending up as a cell in the vehicle charging network.

The decision to treat batteries as a quasi-renewable asset means fewer resources end up in landfills. And, during operation, there is the benefit of saving carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

A comprehensive process of digitalization in Sweden has led to a growing need for IT specialists in the country. According to recent statistics a deficit of 70,000 IT engineers is expected in 2022.

To improve the shortage situation in the country four main measures were suggested to be taken by the experts:

• Strengthen general efforts on digitalization
• Raise awareness among schools and institutions on needs for IT specialists
• Accent on continuous education and training during career
• Improve immigration and attract international talents

Let’s look closely at the fourth factor – improvement of immigration and attraction of international talents.  

A globalised economy requires an efficient system for migration and integration.

In Sweden, business in general and a digital sector, in particular, depend on the international talents. In order to remain internationally competitive and the country without doubt should have advanced and straight-forward immigration policies to reassure that the process of relocation to Sweden for international talents runs as smooth as possible. Through the poor management of labour immigration in recent years, Sweden has lost much of its attractiveness and, thereby, many valuable talents.

In order to improve immigration situation in the country the following measures are suggested to be taken:

Develop a national strategy for talent attraction, including a ”onestop-shop” for all case management connected to labour immigration, coordinated by regional ”expat centres”.

Effective collaboration between the authorities responsible for recruitment and establishment of third-country nationals in the Swedish labour market is crucial for Sweden to be able to compete internationally for skills. Our proposal is to set up regional so-called expat centres for the coordination of all contacts with authorities (one-stop-shop19).

A prerequisite is that the Migration Agency is given the task of promoting labour immigration for occupations where there is a lack of supply, clearly differentiated from its by nature restrictive asylum management. We also advocate a review of the regulatory framework for employee stock options and expert tax, in order to make it more profitable and attractive to work in Sweden, as a part of the national strategy.

Aim for an increase of at least 10,000 more international top students applying to Swedish universities and, by extension, to the Swedish labour market by more generous public-private funded scholarship programmes and extended deadlines for seeking work in Sweden after graduation. The number of inbound students has decreased by 10,000 since 2011, and fewer than one in ten students from countries outside the EU get into our labour market. Our scholarship programmes, which are today linked to the aid budget and therefore not freely available to students from all over the world, should be both broadened and increased, including by a greater degree of co-financing with private actors. The aim should be that 10,000 more top students are recruited every year, of which at least half should be willing and able to work in Sweden after graduation. Together with better collaboration between colleges and the working life (as proposed in earlier sections) and an extended deadline to at least a year for seeking work after graduation, it can be ensured that these talents will be available for the Swedish labour market.

No-lockdown strategy helped companies in Sweden avoid the worst-case scenario predicted by experts. Despite many debates and scary predictions Sweden seems to choose the correct course with one after another Swedish companies have been beating expectations: from telecoms equipment maker Ericsson to consumer appliances manufacturer Electrolux via lender Handelsbanken and lockmaker Assa Abloy. “I have never seen such a high proportion of companies coming in with better profits than expected. It’s almost every company,” said Esbjorn Lundevall, chief equity strategist at lender SEB.

“Keeping society open, schools open, doesn’t mean that we haven’t been hit. But it does mean that we haven’t suddenly not been able to leave our homes. That has undoubtedly helped companies,” Alrik Danielson, chief executive of Swedish bearings manufacturer SKF.

SKF, whose ball bearings are used in everything from paper machines to cars has kept its offices in Sweden open throughout the crisis and expects workers to come in unless they are ill. Its second-quarter underlying operating profits in the three months to June fell by almost half compared with a year ago but were still a third ahead of analyst expectations. “We have quickly adapted to the new reality, even though we don’t know how it will be going forward,” said Mr Danielson. SKF’s sashed are steadily flat since the start of the year but have increased by more than half since their lowest point in March, when the pandemic started. Sweden’s death rate has been a way higher than neighbouring Norway, Denmark and Finland, causing controversial discussions around the world. But its excess mortality levels have been lower than in many European countries, such as UK, France and Spain, which were under a lockdown.

It is a similar situation terms of the predicted economic impact. Economists and central banks forecast that GDP level in Sweden should decrease by roughly 5 per cent, similar to Norway and Denmark and far better than in Italy, the UK or France. Despite predictions, Swedbank reported pre-tax profit in the second quarter of SKr6bn, down slightly year-on-year but almost 40 per cent ahead of analyst expectations. Jens Henriksson, a Chief executive commented: “I’m not going to say yes or no. We have not been as closed down. And that translates into a positive effect. If you look at the Swedish economy, we’ve seen signs that it’s picking up.”He added that big companies, which had rushed to Swedbank for loans at the start of the coronavirus pandemic have already started repaying, while smaller businesses had not borrowed as much as many had expected.

The housing market has also stayed robust, with SEB’s confidence indicator showing its biggest ever improvement from June to July. Experts highlight that there is a split between Swedish companies into those with a heavy domestic focus, such as retail banks, and the manufactures. The first benefited the most from anti-lockdown approach while the second as large contributors to the export sector were exposed to reduced global demand.

Car manufacturer Volvo Group, industrial groups Alfa-Laval, Trelleborg and SKF, and medical technology company Getinge all have not done much profits in the past quarter but beat experts’ forecasts. Ericsson boosted its operating profit in the quarter while Electrolux almost broke even, showing much more positive results than was estimated.  One possible explanation is simply that experts were too negative about the impact of coronavirus, not just in Sweden but across Europe.

Thechief executive at Volvo, Martin Lundstedt, said the 38% drop in sales in the period was “unprecedented” but due to quickly made deep cost cuts the group was able to make profit despite disruption to the group’s supply chains. However, he has mentioned that the Swedish approach to the lockdown had “rather limited effect” given the disruption to supply chains beyond the country’s borders. “We are too intertwined with other countries,” he said. “It’s more about the fact that a lot of Swedish companies have been working on flexibility.”

All industrial groups were encouraged by signs of recovery in China and a robust early rebound in other countries in Europe, as well as government support to maintain jobs.

The global renewable energy market is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period owing to increased emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly CO2 due to utilization of fossil fuels for generation of energy. The market is expected to reach $1,512.3 Billion by 2025, registering a CAGR of 6.1% from 2018 to 2025. Renewable energy technologies convert the energy from different natural sources such as sun, tides, wind and others, into its usable forms such as electricity.

In addition, limited presence of fossil fuel on the earth as well its volatile prices fuels the renewable energy market. However, generation of energy from renewable sources requires huge investment. This factor is anticipated to hamper the market growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, in the Middle East, fossil fuels are majorly used to generate energy owing to its cost effective nature as compared to other regions. This hampers the growth of the market. On the contrary, continuous advancement in technologies and increased government funding in renewable energy sector to offer lucrative growth opportunities during the assessment period.  The renewable energy market size is increasing due to rise in stringent government regulations regarding climate change in the developed and developing economies.

The renuable energy market is subdivided into type, end use, and region. Based on type, the market is divided into hydroelectric power, wind power, bioenergy, solar energy, and geothermal energy. Based on end use, the market is categorized into residential, commercial, industrial, and others. Based on region, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Owing to increase in demand for energy due to rise in industrialization in developing countries such as China, and India. Presence of these countries boosts the renewable energy market owing to factors such as rise in population, rapid industrialization along with favorable policies for the renewable energy sector.

The renewable energy market analysis covers in-depth information of major industry participants. Some of the major players in the market include ABB Ltd., General Electric (GE), The Tata Power Company Limited (Tata Power), Innergex, Enel Spa (Enel), Xcel Energy Inc. (Xcel Energy), EDF, Geronimo Energy, Invenergy, and ACCIONA.

Other players in the value chain of the market include Vestas Wind Systems A/S, UpWind Solutions, Inc., Senvion S.A., and Sinovel Wind Group Co., Ltd. ENERCON GmbH.

Key players are adopting numerous strategies such as product launch, acquisition, collaboration, partnership, and business expansion, to stay competitive in the market. For instance, Innergex acquired Alterra. The acquisition included two geothermal facilities in Iceland. This acquisition added 485 MW (gross 1,049 MW) of renewable energy assets, to its portfolio.

In addition, Enel won the first ever renewable energy tender in India through its subsidiary BLP Energy Private Limited. Enel is expected to invest $290 billion in the construction of the wind farm.  The plant is scheduled to start its operations in the second half of 2019 and is estimated to generate 1, 000 GWh of renewable energy. This expansion has reinforced its presence in the India renewable energy market.

Based on type, the market is classified into hydroelectric power, wind power, bioenergy, solar energy, and geothermal energy. The hydroelectric power segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Furthermore, the solar energy segment is expected to grow at the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Based on end use, the renewable energy market is classified into residential, commercial, industrial, and others. The industrial segment is expected to account for the highest market share.

Based on region, the renewable energy market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Asia-Pacific emerged as a global leader in 2017 and is anticipated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. In terms of end use, the industrial and residential segments are expected to dominate the Asia-Pacific market owing to rapid industrialization. China is anticipated to account for the highest market share in the Asia-Pacific renewable energy market and is projected to dominate the market during the analysis period. China aims on reducing its dependency on fossil fuels by adopting renewable energy for generation of electricity.

UK employers are facing significant challenges when it comes to both recruiting and retaining manual and elementary service workers – a new study has revealed.

The report, developed by workforce management expert Quinyx found that nearly half (49%) of UK employers struggle to recruit these workers, with the same percentage reporting challenges around retention. Issues with recruitment and retention were discovered to be most acute in industries such as hospitality, catering & leisure and retail. In addition, larger businesses (those with a workforce of 250 to 500) are more likely to face challenges compared to smaller-sized businesses.

The UK’s construction industry is healthy and growing with continued housing demands; especially in highly populated areas. To meet this need and help people get on the property ladder, the British Government has set lofty ambitions of delivering an average of 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.

There’s also demand for new office and commercial spaces and many large infrastructure projects, like Hinkley Point C and High Speed 2, are already in the works. Just last year, in 2017, the government released a report which revealed a healthy construction pipeline and forecasted that over the next ten years, public and private investors intend to fund £600bn in infrastructure projects.

IS THERE A SKILL SHORTAGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?

The UK construction sector is one of the country's leading economic drivers, however a perceived shortage of skilled professionals is becoming a challenge for a field that relies on its workforce more than most.

Although the construction industry looks to be on solid ground, the foundations are slowly eroding away and employers fear that there aren't enough bricklayers, plumbers and project managers coming through to repair them.

In a report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the skill shortage in construction and engineering was described as 'critical'. Although the number of job opportunities are rising, the number of suitable candidates isn't and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates that more than 36,000 new workers a year will be needed to cover current demand. This is easier said than done though, as more than half of employers are finding it difficult to fill skilled vacancies.

HOW BREXIT WILL AFFECT THE SITUATION?

According to Quinyx’s research, business leaders working in organisations with a blue-collar workforce predict that they will lose 18% of that workforce as a result of Brexit, with over a fifth (22%) saying they expect to lose 31% or more. Particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in the workforce are logistics and healthcare businesses.

Looking further ahead, many businesses are wary about talent pipelines post-Brexit. Nearly half (49%) of employers said that they expect Brexit to have a negative impact on their future recruitment of manual and elementary service workers – with 15% expecting it to be severe.

Two British startups AMTE Power and Britishvolt announced plans to invest £4bn in building the UK’s first large-scale battery to boost to the UKs struggling car industry.

Companies have signed an agreement proposing that they will work together on plans for a plant to make lithium ion batteries, the key component in electric cars as well as energy storage products.
The chief executive of Britishvolt - Lars Carlstrom has announced that the companies had an ambition to build facilities producing batteries with capacity of as much as 30 gigawatt hours (GWh) a year, which would be roughly equivalent to the joint Tesla-Panasonic Gigafactory in Nevada. A factory of that size would create as many as 4,000 jobs, he said.

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The global automotive industry is racing to secure supplies of lithium ion batteries as manufacturers seek to meet growing demand for electric cars as well as government regulations that limit carbon dioxide exhaust emissions.

However, the lack of large-scale battery manufacturing facilities in the UK has raised fears over the future of the country’s automotive industry, including from the Jaguar Land Rover boss, Ralf Speth. Transport costs mean that securing a battery supply close to car assembly plants is attractive for carmakers.
The government-backed Faraday Institution estimates 130 GWh of annual capacity will be required by 2040 if the UK is to retain a large automotive sector.
The UK recently lost out on a major investment in battery production by Tesla. Elon Musk, the US electric carmaker’s chief executive, blamed Brexit uncertainty for his decision to choose Berlin over a British location. Other battery producers such as Sweden’s Northvolt, South Korea’s LG Chem and China’s CATL have built factories in EU countries.
Carlstrom said the UK’s struggles with Brexit had provided an opportunity for the company to approach the market, with other companies unwilling to invest despite the expected demand for batteries from UK car factories.

European and UK carmakers have tended to import battery cells, which are then assembled into packs to go in cars, from China and South Korea. However, carmakers such as the Vauxhall owner, Peugeot, have recognised an increasing need to secure a supply of cells closer to home.
Securing investment in a UK gigafactory has been a top priority for the government’s automotive industry officials. The government-backed Advanced Propulsion Centre orchestrated the tie-up between two startups.

AMTE Power, which was founded in 2013, already runs a small facility in Thurso, northern Scotland, and is looking at sites in Teesside and Dundee for a larger plant capable of 1GWh a year. AMTE, led by the chief executive, Kevin Brundish, focuses on specialist markets such as high-performance cars.

Britishvolt is looking at five locations for a larger plant with an annual capacity of 10GWh of batteries aimed at mass-market cars, with the possibility of adding another 20GWh after that. Britishvolt expects to raise the first £1.2bn of funds in the next year, after receiving initial backing from Scandinavian and Middle Eastern investors.Despite the looming coronavirus recession, the company is confident it can raise funds, as investors look for green investment opportunities.