RE Recruitment, a leading UK recruitment agency, has been named one of only two agencies nationally to be granted a licence to recruit overseas poultry workers under the Seasonal Worker visa route, a Temporary Visa for poultry, according to a press release from the agency.

The Seasonal Worker visa route is a new initiative which enables organisations in the poultry supply chain to recruit overseas workers without them needing to be part of the Government's Settlement Scheme.

The licence has been awarded until 2024 following a competitive tender process. It will enable RE Recruitment to recruit personnel from inside and outside the EU without the need for the individuals to be part of the Settlement Scheme.

The Temporary Visa Scheme for poultry, to which the Government has committed 2,000 visas each year until 2024, was announced in 2021 and designed to ease the seasonal pressures on the poultry industry. Visas will be available for workers arriving from 1 November 2022, and they must leave the UK by 31 December 2022.

“We are delighted that RE Recruitment has been selected to lead the search and recruit overseas temporary workers in the poultry industry, allowing us to support an important British industry during its busiest time of the year," said James Gibbs, Managing Director at RE Recruitment. "Our specialist team will be working with companies all over the country to ensure they are sufficiently staffed with a skilled workforce.”

Companies looking to recruit temporary workers will be able to use RE Recruitment to search for candidates to fill seasonal vacancies. The recruitment process will involve processing and securing temporary visas so that workers can enter the UK to begin their employment.

“We will manage all aspects of the visa processing so that the companies we are recruiting for can focus on their businesses," said Mark Norton, Head of Onsite Services. "And for our candidates, a seamless and straightforward recruitment and contracting process, without the need for them to be worried about the complexities surrounding visa applications.”

In addition to poultry, the company specialises in the supply of temporary, contract and permanent workers across the food processing, farming and fruit-picking sectors.