Scotland’s Migration Service supported an Edinburgh-based tourism business to navigate sponsorship and hire international talent with confidence.
How Scotland’s Migration Service supported the client
Mercat Tours is a long-established, family-run tourism business based in Edinburgh. As the business grew, they began hiring international staff and needed to understand how visa rules applied in practice.
This case study is based on an interview from the Edinburgh Business Stories podcast, part of the Brand Scotland series. In the episode, Mercat Tours shares their experience of hiring international staff and working with Scotland’s Migration Service.
Watch the Business Stories Podcast X Mercat Tours episode (youtube.co.uk)
They first contacted Scotland’s Migration Service when a team member moved from a Student visa to a Graduate visa. They wanted to make sure they were meeting all requirements and managing the change correctly.
To get support, they booked a free appointment.
During the appointment, an immigration lawyer explained the process step by step. This included how to become a sponsor, what responsibilities this involves, and how to assess whether a role meets Skilled Worker requirements.
Scotland’s Migration Service supported the business to:
- understand sponsor licence responsibilities
- assess roles against salary and eligibility requirements
- clarify the impact of visa changes for existing staff
- explore options when rules or thresholds changed.
The business also received support on more complex situations, including changes to visa conditions and how these affect both the employer and employee.
With this guidance, they were able to make informed decisions and ensure they were meeting their legal responsibilities.
The process helped remove uncertainty and gave the business confidence to continue hiring internationally where appropriate.
It also showed that sponsorship is possible for small and medium-sized businesses, with the right support in place.
If you are considering hiring international staff or need help understanding your responsibilities as a sponsor, Scotland’s Migration Service can help.
Book your appointment today for free expert advice.