UK immigration updates: How will they affect your business? 🌍

Hey there,

We’re getting straight into it today with:

1. 🙋‍♀️ The legal question we’ve been asked most this past month by founders and startups. 

2. 📰 Noteworthy news (and why it’s relevant to you). 

3. ✅ One legal reminder to check off your list.

4. 💸 Funding and award opportunities to grow your business.

5. 🎉 Events this month that could bring value to you and your business.

1. Our Most Asked Question in April:
Should we trade mark our brand in multiple countries? 🌍

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: protecting your business’s IP is a critical step when setting up your business. 🧑‍💻

Registering your trade mark is part of this process. 

But should you register your trade mark in more countries than just your own? It depends. Here’s what to consider:

1. Any international expansion plans? 🌍

   If someone else has already registered your business’s name in a country that you want to expand to, you’ll be blocked from using it. So if there’s a chance that you’ll expand your business internationally, register your trade mark in any applicable countries.
   

2. Do you sell online? 💻

   If you sell online (via Etsy, Amazon, your own e-commerce store, etc.) to customers in other countries, consider registering your trade mark in the countries where you have a customer base. This will prevent a copycat company from swooping in and stealing your revenue.     
   

3. Want to increase your IP valuation? 📈

   If you want to be as appealing as possible to investors, buyers or potential partners, you can add value to your business by having a brand that is internationally protected. 

❌ Are there any reasons to NOT trade mark your business in multiple countries?

1. Well, first and foremost, it is expensive. So, depending on your resources, focus on the key markets you may want to be a part of rather than everywhere.

2. If your brand is local with no mission to expand internationally, then registering your trade mark in multiple countries isn’t necessary.

2. Noteworthy News:
The UK’s “right to stay” clock doubles from 5 to 10 years. 🕰️

The UK government has announced that it plans to reform its immigration system, including a focus on businesses being able to bring only highly skilled migrants into the country.

What this looks like practically:

• 👩‍🔬 Higher Skill Thresholds: The skilled visa threshold will be raised to RQF Level 6 (graduate level), potentially limiting access to mid-level tech talent.

• 📋 Abolition of Immigration Salary List: The current list offering reduced salary thresholds for shortage occupations will be replaced, affecting hiring flexibility.

• 💷 Increased Costs: Visa fees and the Immigration Skills Charge will rise, increasing the financial burden on employers.

• 👨‍🎓 Reduced Graduate Visa Duration: The post-study work visa for international graduates will be shortened from two years to 18 months.

3. Legal Reminder Of The Month:
Now that you’ve decided to operate internationally, take the right steps to protect your trademark. ™️

If you’ve decided to operate internationally, take the right steps to protect your trade mark.

To protect your trade mark outside the UK, you can either apply separately in each country or use streamlined systems like the Madrid Protocol (managed by WIPO) or the EU trade mark system (via EUIPO).

The benefits of these streamlined, international systems include:

1. 📉 Lower costs and fewer admin tasks.

2. 🌍 Only one application that covers multiple countries.

3. 🏃‍♂️ Processing is faster and management will be simpler.

To use the Madrid Protocol, you must already have a UK trade mark application or registration. Your international application must also match your UK filing completely. You can apply at the same time or within six months to claim priority (your overseas filing is treated as if made on the UK date).

4. Funding & Award Opportunities 💸

💰 Innovate UK Innovation Loans, Round 21: Innovate UK is offering up to £25 million in loans to micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Innovate UK innovation loans are for highly innovative late-stage research and development (R&D) projects with the best potential for the future.

💰 Immerse Early Stage Accelerator: This Early Stage Accelerator spans 8 weeks, guiding founders from MVP stage to business growth. It also offers a platform to pitch to investors and access a £12k grant funding pot. Applications open on June 10th.

5. Upcoming Entrepreneurial Events 🤓

May 22nd: What All Founders Should Know About Startup Exits  – Hosted by Accountancy Cloud and supported by Barclays Eagle Labs, we bring you an exciting event where you'll learn what you need to know about startup exits.

May 23rd: London Venture Capital Summit – ​Join London Venture Capital Network’s Flagship Summit for London's best venture capital conference - a day filled with networking, breakthroughs, and opportunities in the world of innovation.

June 6th: Future of Work Summit 2025 – This special day will feature thought-provoking roundtable discussions, practical bite-sized seminars and time to netwrok where you can learn, contribute, and dive deep into the future of industries, workplaces, and careers.

June 11th - 12th: The AI Summit London – Unlock AI’s full potential at The AI Summit London, where theory becomes profitable application.

June 21st: Founderfest 2025 – From expert panels to hands-on workshops, Founderfest provides everything you need to level up your entrepreneurial journey. With over 500 attendees and 50+ inspiring speakers, Founderfest is a powerhouse of innovation and collaboration.

That’s all for now. And as always, happy businessing!

– The SuLe Team