Universities West Midlands and West Midlands Chambers of Commerce  welcome the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee’s review into the Graduate
route.

The review has found that there is no evidence of widespread abuse of the Graduate route
and that it does not undermine the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system.

We have written to the Home Secretary asking him to reflect carefully on the risks to
regional economies and take a measured approach to any changes to the Graduate route.

The review recommends that government should only make significant policy changes
when it has a clear plan for how it will collect and monitor data so that it is able to
understand the wider impacts of the graduate route. We welcome a full and proper review
of international student migration at an appropriate time, so that all recent changes to
student visa rules can be assessed collectively.

The West Midlands is an innovation region and international students are an important
part of the talent base that supports our businesses. Reports from universities of a drop in
international student recruitment and businesses experiencing recruitment difficulties are
worrying. Government must take care to not inflict further shocks to the ability of the West
Midlands to attract and retain the talented workforce that underpins our region’s success.

Read our letter to the Home Secretary 

Universities West Midlands, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Black Country Chambers of Commerce, Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce, Shropshire Chambers of Commerce