Proposed immigration reforms to the points-based immigration system to allow companies to transfer graduates to the UK from overseas offices could lead to an increase in non-EU workers coming to the UK on intra-company transfers (ICTs), according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

Figures obtained by APSCo show that three times as many non-EU IT workers entered the UK in 2008 via ICTs than during the dot.com boom.

One of the changes referred to by the home secretary will ensure graduates are made eligible for ICTs for the first time. The transfers allow companies to transfer workers from overseas offices without having to advertise vacancies in the UK first.

APSCo says that the existing rules make it extremely unlikely that any graduate would accumulate enough points to be eligible for an ICT work permit.

Ann Swain, chief executive of APSCo, says: “These changes will do very little to slow the influx of non-EU IT workers coming to the UK. In fact, by making it possible for companies to bring graduates in on ICTs, we could see more foreign workers coming to the UK than would have been the case had the government done nothing at all.”