The recent changes to the Tier 1 (Highly Skilled) visa will have minimal impact on the TNT readership.
2007 research showed that only 5% of the TNT readership is on a Highly Skilled Visa, and figures from the 2008 March Travel Show show that only 8% of readers are on one.
In 2006-2007 there were only 3075 Australian and 708 New Zealand work permits granted as opposed to 25,000 Working Holiday Maker Visas. In light of the recent positive changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme whereby these visa holders can now live and work in the UK for 2 years, it is estimated that by the end of 2010 close to 50,000 YMV will be in operation in the UK.
Despite the Home Office tightening the restrictions of the Tier 1 Visa, the changes are still outweighed by the relaxing of the Youth Mobility Visa restrictions – meaning that the Antipodean market in the UK is growing year on year and they’re staying longer than before.
On top of this 15% of TNT readers have completed postgraduate tertiary study meaning there is still a TNT market eligible for the new Tier 1 visa.
