Britain is a great country to set up a business for immigrants. It has an economy, is business-friendly, and has a low cost of doing business, which makes the UK a favorite among foreign entrepreneurs. You might want to set up your own little firm or invest in a bigger one, there are many lucrative areas in the UK to try. Below we cover 10 of the top business ideas for immigrants in the UK with the best visas for each business.
1. Tech Startups
The UK is one of the technological powers that be, especially London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. The tech industry such as fintech, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity is flourishing. The AI capital of Europe is London.
Suitable Visa:
- Global Talent Visa: For Tech-Heavy Leaders. Work as an employee, independent contractor, or as the director of your firm.
- Self-Sponsorship: Popular with IT consultants who want to start a company in the UK.
2. Retail Business
Retail in the UK is huge and immigrant shops, internet shops, or even small stores like grocery shops or boutiques are now popular.
Suitable Visa:
- Global Business Mobility Expansion Worker Visa: If you’re taking a previous retail business to the UK.
- Innovator Founder Visa: Ideal for starting a new retail company in the UK.
3. Franchising
Franchising is a risk-free immigration route to the UK market. Franchises such as fast-food outlets like Subway or Costa Coffee or even a service business such as car servicing are very popular.
Suitable Visa:
- Visa For Entrepreneur Founder: If you’re buying into a franchise and doing something different.
4. Real Estate Investment
Since it is a property-hungry country, the UK provides great real estate investment in houses or offices.
Suitable Visa:
- You do not need a visa to invest in real estate. But investors should be prepared for the odd tweak, such as stamp duty hikes for those outside the UK.
5. Healthcare Services
The NHS is growing in the UK and there’s a demand for private health, care homes, and medical services. There are healthcare advisors, too.
Suitable Visa:
- Medical Practitioner Health and Care Worker Visa: For Registered Physicians.
- Innovator Founder Visa: For Entrepreneurs in the Healthcare Industry, Private Practice, and Consultancy.
6. Food and Beverage Industry
As the UK is a multicultural nation, immigrants could introduce their regional dishes to restaurants, food trucks, or cafes.
Suitable Visa:
- Innovation Founder Visa: If you’re a food company with something fresh and new that we can’t get here in the UK.
7. Education and Training Services
Education and training in the UK are very popular such as tutoring, vocational training, and internet platforms.
Suitable Visa:
- Visa of the Innovator Founder: Entrepreneurs start a school business, so long as the concept is new and scalable.
8. Creative Industry
Film, fashion, music, digital, the arts: all creative industries thrive in the UK. Immigrants who come from such fields have an advantage here.
Suitable Visa:
- World Talent Visa: For top creative innovators.
- Skilled Worker Visa: For creative employees of UK firms.
- Innovator Founder Visa: To start a creative business in the UK.
9. Renewable Energy
With the decarbonization agenda of the UK on the rise, the renewable energy industry is on the rise. It’s the solar, the consultancy, the clean energy for businesses and houses that are up for grabs.
Suitable Visa:
- Founder Visa Innovator: Startup founder visa If you are starting a start-up of renewable energy.
- Self-Sponsorship: For Renewable Energy Consultants who want to own their own company in the UK.
10. E-commerce
Britain is one of the most e-commerce nations in Europe. Whether you have an e-commerce company or want to start one, the UK is a perfect place to grow or open a shop.
Suitable Visa:
- Founder Visa Innovator: Creates new and original eCommerce stores.
- Global Business Mobility Expansion Worker Visa: If you are launching an existing e-commerce company in the UK.
- Global Talent Visa: If you are a digital technology or eCommerce pioneer.
There is no shortage of work for immigrants in the UK whether you are a tech, retail, healthcare, or one of the other successful sectors above. You have to choose the right visa for your business and you have to meet all the conditions.
You should speak to Law and Visas, an immigration lawyer specialising in business immigration if you are thinking about opening a business in the UK. We can help you with visa application and we can help you from starting your business to getting the right immigration status. Let us do the immigration for you so that you can get on with starting a new business.
