Redfox Executive Selection has linked up with the Visa Office to support UK fresh produce businesses that might otherwise be reluctant to recruit overseas talent.

The joint venture will help tackle nagging visa issues within the sector and open up greater opportunities for both clients and international candidates.

Refox director David Macaulay said the international candidate market is saturated with talent that the fresh produce sector urgently demands, but many businesses are reluctant to take advantage of this skill base due to complicated visa issues.

He told FPJ: “We are trying to allow the fresh produce companies that perhaps are not of a huge size, or not used to taking on international talent, or confused by the visa process to consider candidates from overseas.

“In many cases, especially candidates that have very specialist skills, it is relatively easy to obtain a visa to work in the UK.

“The partnership will allow us to market candidates that do not have the right to work in the UK and provide support to both employers and employees, to speed up the process between applying for a visa and starting the job.

“We want to bring more talent into the UK fresh produce industry.”