31st October 2019
Our immigration specialist Sarah Henry teamed up with Aine Crilly Managing Director of HR Elephant to deliver a series of workshops aimed at local businesses facilitated by Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade. The ‘Brexit-Ready’ Workshops on Managing EU Workers were very well received and key findings from the sessions revealed that local businesses are concerned about problems they currently face around recruitment and retaining staff. They identified a number of areas where there are shortages in skilled labour and believe that Brexit will only serve to compound the problems they are experiencing. Employers were also concerned that some of their staff had not yet applied for EU Settlement – a requirement for EU citizens if they want to remain in the UK after Brexit. Some of the business owners confirmed that they considered relocating elsewhere and access to skilled labour is cited as one of the key factors that would drive their decision to move their business.
Employers were signposted to key support providers where their employees can receive support on a one to one basis from organisations like Advice NI. They were also provided with the opportunity to consult with our specialist solicitor on specific issues they wished to discuss around staff, HR and management in the face of uncertainty around Brexit.
Our immigration team is led by Sarah Henry who is dual qualified and has practiced in the area of immigration for 10 years. Sarah qualified through the Law Society of Ireland and practiced in Dublin and Belfast providing advice to businesses, organisations and individuals on a wide range of immigration matters. Sarah is passionate about immigration and clients can be certain that they receive specialist advice from a dedicated solicitor in this niche practice area. Sarah is from Newry and is also an active member of the board of Women’s Aid Armagh Down.
Since September, Sarah has engaged with over 40 businesses across Northern Ireland advising on changes in immigration law and how developments will impact organisations who rely on EU workers. She was delighted to be asked to work with The Centre for Competitiveness at Queen’s University, Belfast where she was invited as a specialist advisor to support a range of manufacturing businesses around HR, people planning and managing changes in UK immigration law as a result of Brexit.
Sarah has recently worked with Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade as an expert adviser to businesses as part of the Chamber’s ‘’Brexit Ready’’ series of workshops.
As part of Granite Legal Service’s Business Talks, Sarah has been invited to host a number of workshops aimed at business and is delighted to welcome local enterprises to join her and her colleagues at the Granite Exchange meetings rooms to take part.
Sarah’s upcoming training covers:
Creating a More Diverse Workplace – 4th December 2019
People Planning & Immigration Law – 11th December 2019
Sarah Henry
For more information on our workshops contact
Sarah Henry – Director of Immigration
