UKTBC annual cap and ‘headroom’ proposals driving youth mobility talks

An annual cap of some 45,000 participants and the concept of visa ‘headroom’ - proposals at the heart of the UK Trade and Business Commission (UKTBC)’s report on a Youth Experience Scheme (YES) - are driving the UK government’s negotiations with the EU on agreeing a youth mobility deal, the i paper has reported.

The UK is understood to be “looking at imposing an annual cap of 45,000 on young Europeans who can come to Britain”, according to the newspaper, which also reported that “ahead of a crunch summer summit with the EU, the UK is examining how to deliver a youth experience scheme with the bloc, while honouring its manifesto pledge to reduce net migration”. 

It comes after the cross-party UKTBC published its landmark report in December which recommended the UK and EU should launch a new time-limited Youth Experience Scheme (YES), capped at 44,000 visas in the first year, as part of 17 substantive recommendations to accelerate progress towards deeper cooperation. 

The report also identified how the UK government could deliver such a scheme while honouring its manifesto pledge to reduce net migration to the UK, by utilising the concept of visa ‘headroom’ which would mean a YES would likely have no or a negligible overall impact on UK net migration. 

Recent polling by YouGov for Best for Britain shows that a clear majority (63%) of the public back the UK agreeing to a Youth Experience Scheme with the EU with just 17% opposed . 

Tom Brufatto, lead author of the report, and Executive Director of Policy and Research at Best for Britain, the secretariat to the cross-party, cross-industry UKTBC, which was first to recommend a YES in 2023, said: 

“It is welcome news that the UK government appears to have considered the UKTBC's informed and substantive recommendations, as the UK and EU aim to reach agreement on this crucial area of policy.

“A YES can restore life-changing opportunities for British and European young people, benefit both the UK and EU economically, societally and culturally, and unlock vital progress towards closer co-operation on defence, energy and an agri-food deal.”