Want to choose correct occupation

[ceobot]

Hi Guys,

From Tier 1 Entrepreneur Guidance it is clear that:
"you should work in an occupation which appears on the list of occupations skilled to National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4 or above".

I just need your opinion.

I am on PSW Visa right now, and the last year I was working in furniture manufacturing business. My occupation was: "Business development manager". I personally didn't take any part in manufacturing process, but I know how to deal with all related issues, like which employees should be employed, how to find customers etc. It actually means that my experience allows me to start my own business.

As you have already understood I am going to start my own furniture manufacturing and my occupation on the company will remain the same : Sales and Business Development manager.

How does it sound for you ? This occupation is actually NQF level 4 which is OK for Ent. Visa, however, will they somehow link my occupation with my business ? I mean I am not an "expert" in furniture production, but I know how to organize this business, that's why my main occupation will be development overall.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

[Lucapooka]

Perhaps it is fine but the title of your role in the business is not relevant and unless the actual business is at level 4 (and you have made no mention of that) you will not be allowed to switch from PSW with only 50K. What will your company or business be doing or providing?

[ceobot]

[quote="Lucapooka"]Perhaps it is fine but the title of your role in the business is not relevant and unless the actual business is at level 4 (and you have made no mention of that) you will not be allowed to switch from PSW with only 50K. What will your company or business be doing or providing?[/quote]

Thanks for your reply. This is where I am confused a little bit. I clearly understand my occupation and what exactly I will be doing. However, I don't understand in what way should link my occupation and business, the only occupation which is relevant to furniture business I found is 5442 Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers, however as I have already mentioned I have no skills or experience in furniture making.

I stuck with this. One more time: My business will manufacture and provide customers with high quality furniture. My occupation will be - Business Development manager (NQF6). Thanks for your help.

[Lucapooka]

The nature of the business has to be level 4 regardless of your role or title. You can't, for example, be marketing director of a fish and chip shop and expect to switch, because the nature of business is providing fast food and that is not a level 4 occupation.

SOC 5442 is level 3 so will not qualify for the 50K capital entry. You can do this with 200K but I suppose that is no use to you.

3442 (Furniture design) would qualify but I suppose your business is not related solely to design as an artistic trade.

You need to rethink your plans!

[ceobot]

[quote="Lucapooka"]The nature of the business has to be level 4 regardless of your role or title. You can't, for example, be marketing director of a fish and chip shop and expect to switch, because the nature of business is providing fast food and that is not a level 4 occupation.

SOC 5442 is level 3 so [b]will not qualify[/b] for the 50K capital entry. You can do this with 200K but I suppose that is no use to you.

3442 (Furniture design) would qualify but I suppose your business is not related solely to design as an artistic trade.

You need to rethink your plans![/quote]

What if I say in my CV that I my occupation was furniture designer. And now I am planning to open a furniture design studio where I will be creating furniture designs and at the same time produce this furniture.

The problem is that I can't catch the moment when HO can think I am trying to lie. It seems there is a big difference in Furniture Designer Occupation and Furniture Maker occupation (NQF 4 and NQF 3) but at this moment I can't understand is Furniture Production actually a NQF4 or NQF3.

It says in guidance:
" “Working” in this context means that the core service your business provides to its customers or clients involves the business delivering a service in an occupation at this level"

From this is seems that if my occupation is 3442 (Furniture design) and core business provides Furniture Design services to customers, can I still be involved in production of this furniture ?

Because this is exactly what I am going to do if I successful with my application.

Lucapooka, thanks a lot for your help.

[Lucapooka]

The problem with switching from PSW is that the business has to be operating at the time you apply and the UKBA will look at what you are doing and view that as the business. You can't claim to be a furniture designer if, basically, you are churning out low quality standard products for mass consumption. Claiming that perhaps in the future you will be the next Terence Conran, even though right now you are merely producing bog-standard produce, will not be considered either.

[ceobot]

Lucapooka, thanks for your help. I also read some other topics where you were involved and was looking for an answer for few days, but need to admit I am still confused. I have an appointment tomorrow with the lawyer, but probably not expecting too much from him. I want to describe my situation one more time and hopefully, you or somebody also will recommend me the best solution.

My PSW visa expires on December 2013. So I am going to apply in first days of November. I hold a Masters degree in Business economics. Last year I was working in the furniture company. I will describe their work:

Through their website, local advertisement and relevant industry fairs they receive phone calls or email from potential customers:
1) Customer orders a free design visit. One of company's designers goes to the customer's place and they discuss the design of unit (mainly wardrobe, but sometimes Spam, doors etc. - furniture).
2)After this if the customer is happy we sending him a quote with total price for this project.
3) He signs the form and send the payment to us.
4) After money received we starting manufacturing process of this unit.
5) When unit is ready we install it at the customer's place.

This is actually the standard process of bespoke furniture company business. I was responsible for attracting these customers. I was working with PR campaigns, website marketing, leaflets, catalogs, other sales channels, finding new partners etc. At this stage I can say that "3545 Sales accounts and business development managers - NQF level 6" is the closest occupation I was doing at my previous job and I going to do in my new business.

Now regarding my "Core business". My business provides: 1) furniture design; 2)furniture production; 3) furniture installation. This is the situation which I can't understand, because from one side it seems that 2)Furniture production falls under SOC 5442 (Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers), but on contrary 1) furniture design falls under SOC 3422 (Product, clothing and related designers). What if I say that my business provides customers with Furniture designs and manufacturing of this furniture after this. Will they refuse this application?

So I will go with Occupation - 3545, job title Sales accounts and business development managers and core business SOC 3422 Furniture designers.

To support this I can show my experience in Furniture company, existing website with portfolio, one contract with potential customer etc.

One thing which I didn't understand from guidance and didn't find on this forum: In which way they gonna check that I really worked in Furniture company and I really was Business Development manager at the company.

And of course second question is which I have already explained. Actually one part of business falls under NQF Level 4, another under NQF Lever 3, what to do with this ?



P.S. I have a very small chance to access £200K before application date, anyway, will I have this "pain in the mule" in this case ?

[top]

dear Sir,

You need to understand the services you provide to your company is different than the services being provided to clients

as you wrote you role in company fits in''Sales accounts and business development manager'' which said to be at level 4/6 or above is administrating when a company designs furniture and/or manufactures thereafter is actually is a job that you do or would do for your company which is not acceptable as level 4 or above.

A friend of mine being on PSW running a taxi rank and so keen to have his visa extended in same category because that is the only thing he did or can do which is unfortunately not acceptable as level 4 in many cases including yours people want to go in the their chosen field because they have experience being their area of expertise but for the sake of Visa you would have to find yourself a SOC that they Recognize...

hope above helps

[ceobot]

Thanks,

What if I go with:
a) Occupation - Furniture Designer (Leve 4)
b) Core business - SOC 3422 Product, clothing and related designers (Level 4)

And my business plan will only describe Furniture Design business. My CV will be changed and I will add some Furniture Design experience. Will they be able to catch me somehow in this case ? Or everything sounds good ?


Thanks.

[top]

okay if you believe it is level 4 or above is all you need.

wish you best of luck with your future application and business.

thanks...