Tech Nation, a UK-based network for ambitious tech entrepreneurs, has enlisted a Nigerian reputational management agency, LittlestepsPR, to help tech talents in West Africa secure opportunities in the United Kingdom through the UK Tech Nation Global Talent visa.
The promotional package is to enable tech entrepreneurs in West Africa to position themselves as exceptional talent and globally attractive technology experts in their respective countries.
In a statement sent to BusinessDay, Omotolani Olufemi, Client Services Lead, at LittlestpesPR, explained that the UK Tech Nation visa is aimed at attracting the brightest talent in tech to help bolster the UK tech scene and provides opportunities for exceptional African tech talent who wish to settle in the United Kingdom, given its strong technology ecosystem, its proximity to the US and the rest of the EMEA market, and current obstacles with the US E2 visa refusal. She described the UK Tech Nation visa as one of the best schemes, especially for tech talent focused on building great things in tech.
The Tech Nation visa comes with two options including the Exceptional Talent route, which is given to tech talents proven to be recognised leaders, and the Exceptional Promise route, given to those that can demonstrate digital leadership potential in their respective countries.
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“A key requirement for both options is the ability for applications to position themselves as an exceptional talent and tell a convincing story their worth, experience, creativity, innovation, and prospective contribution to the UK’s position at the forefront of the global digital economy,” Olufemi said.
Talents that will be selected are required to show evidence of recognition in national dailies as a digital expert or thought leader. This is where the partnership with LittlestepsPR becomes beneficial as the reputational brand has in the past helped entrepreneurs successfully position as digital experts.
Stephen Kelly, chair of Tech Nation, said Tech Nation’s Visa Report indicates that despite the impact of COVID-19, international interest to work in the UK tech sector has remained strong and is growing higher.
“Attracting tomorrow’s tech leaders to the UK is crucial to the continued growth of the sector, the UK’s place in the world, and driving the nation through recovery to growth in the digital age,” Kelly said.
He also noted that 52 percent of applicants since 2014 are currently employed at some of the UK’s opt tech firms.
Since November 2018, the Tech Nation Global Talent Visa has received 1,975 applications and endorsed 920 from over 50 countries, with India, the US, and Nigeria being the top three countries for visa applications.
