In Aberdeen’s industrial docks, where the North Sea oil and gas legacy blends with the ambitions of a green energy future, business leaders are sounding a familiar alarm: they can’t find the workers they need. The problem isn’t ambition — it’s immigration.
A recent article in Global Underwater Hub Magazine by Director Kelly Hardman has thrust the issue back into the spotlight. In it, Hardman argues that regional approaches to immigration — akin to models used in Canada and Australia — could help Scotland unlock stalled economic potential by directly addressing labour shortages in key sectors like energy, renewables, and even aerospace.
A Fix Hidden in Plain Sight?
While the full devolution of immigration policy to Holyrood remains politically unlikely in the near term, Hardman contends that the UK government could implement pragmatic, regionalised adjustments without legislative overhaul.
Among the ideas floated:
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A Scottish-specific visa pathway or regional points-based modifications
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Visa incentives tied to industries facing critical shortages
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An Energy Skills Passport, allowing international workers to move more easily between roles and jurisdictions within UK sectors
Hardman’s argument is simple: Scotland’s economic geography demands a more flexible approach to immigration than London’s one-size-fits-all model allows.
Why It Matters Now
Scotland’s energy sector — both traditional and renewable — is undergoing rapid transformation. The North Sea is still in play, but its future lies increasingly in carbon capture, hydrogen, offshore wind, and subsea innovation. All of it requires highly specialised talent.
But that talent isn’t always available locally. And international workers, once relatively easy to recruit, now face Brexit-induced red tape, salary thresholds, and visa caps that disproportionately affect remote and regional areas.
“The energy transition is a skills transition,” Hardman wrote. “We cannot afford to lose momentum because of rigid national frameworks.”
Other sectors, including the burgeoning space cluster in Moray and satellite technology firms near Glasgow, echo similar challenges. When competition is global, Hardman argues, immigration policy must be just as agile.
Global Inspiration, Local Translation
The UK isn’t alone in grappling with the tension between national immigration control and local economic needs.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provinces to nominate individuals for permanent residency based on local labour market needs. Similarly, Australia’s Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme incentivises migrants to settle in areas outside major urban centres, often with relaxed conditions.
Even within the EU, countries like Germany have begun piloting skills-based regional visas to plug gaps in healthcare and engineering.
Could the UK adopt something similar — not for all of Britain, but for parts of it?
Kelly Hardman thinks yes.
Politics of Immigration Devolution
Immigration policy remains firmly reserved to Westminster, and despite calls from both the Scottish Government and business groups, Downing Street has shown little interest in loosening its grip.
In fact, since 2020, the Home Office has resisted overtures from Holyrood for a Scottish visa pilot, arguing that a “UK-wide system ensures consistency.”
But that’s precisely the issue, say critics. A consistent system designed for London’s service economy doesn’t reflect the pressures facing sectors clustered in Aberdeen, Inverness, or rural Fife.
The Scottish Government, backed by chambers of commerce and energy groups, continues to push for a differentiated approach. While the politics remain frosty, the economic logic grows harder to ignore.
Who’s Backing It?
Support is growing beyond traditional political lines. Industry leaders, think tanks, and even some union voices are aligning on the issue of skilled immigration flexibility.
Energy Transition Zone Ltd, the agency leading regeneration efforts in Aberdeen, has long warned of recruitment bottlenecks. In February, it published internal data showing that over 45% of green energy roles were being delayed due to skills shortages.
Meanwhile, Space Scotland, the consortium representing aerospace and satellite firms, has flagged chronic under-resourcing, particularly in propulsion and software roles.
Across sectors, a pattern has emerged:
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Jobs exist, often high-paying and long-term
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Local candidates are in short supply
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Overseas candidates face regulatory friction
Hardman argues that targeted reforms — not sweeping constitutional changes — could release the pressure valve.
Beyond the North East
While the epicentre of this debate sits in energy-rich regions like Aberdeen, the argument extends into rural agriculture, health and social care, advanced manufacturing, and university-led R&D zones across the country.
Scotland’s aging population, declining birth rate, and net out-migration from some regions add urgency to the mix. Without proactive strategies to attract and retain working-age residents — especially internationally — local economies risk stagnation.
And while “decentralising immigration policy” might sound like a constitutional minefield, Hardman reframes it as economic common sense.
Where It Goes Next
There’s no immediate sign the UK Government will hand Scotland bespoke immigration powers. But Hardman’s piece in Global Underwater Hub hints at a more subtle route forward — one built on administrative tweaks, policy pilots, and intergovernmental pragmatism.
Whether it’s:
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Adjusting salary thresholds for shortage roles in Scotland
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Allowing employers to nominate under a regional cap
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Recognising sector-specific credentials like an Energy Skills Passport
…there are paths through the political stalemate.
With Scotland’s energy and innovation sectors hanging in the balance — and international competitors racing ahead — the real question might not be if regional immigration makes sense.
It’s whether the UK can afford to keep saying no.
