Adam Kyte writes for Personnel Today on the EU-UK youth mobility scheme

In an opinion piece for Personnel Today, Adam Kyte, Associate in our Immigration team argues that there are only upsides to restoring a EU-UK youth mobility scheme, and that it’s time to override the political backlash from the right-wing media and do what’s best for young people and businesses.

Adam explains that the scheme is an opportunity to address labour shortages in the UK and help the “reset” of post-Brexit relations. But, despite its potential, the Labour government seems reticent to embrace the scheme, fuelled by fears of political backlash. Adam continues:

Conflating the youth mobility scheme with a reversal of Brexit is a misrepresentation of a pragmatic visa arrangement offering mutual benefits, distinct from the free movement of the past.

"As the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement approaches its review in late 2026, the government has a window to change the narrative and demonstrate the scheme’s value without compromising its stance on immigration. Perhaps they could attempt to negotiate the length of the scheme down to two years in line with other schemes. It’s a delicate balance but could yield significant economic and cultural dividends for both the UK and the EU.

"For young people on both sides of the Channel, the scheme promises a chance to regain some of the opportunities lost to Brexit. For businesses, it’s a potential solution to pressing labour needs. The challenge for the government is to navigate the growing hostility to immigration without forsaking these benefits.

Read the full article in Personnel Today here.