The UK healthcare sector is facing a perfect storm. Brexit cut the EU pipeline by 60%, an aging population is driving demand, and domestic training capacity cannot keep up. For private hospitals and care homes, this often means bed closures and unsustainable agency bills.
But there is a solution. While the UK is short on nurses, the global workforce is 28 million strong.
Why International Recruitment Works
Sigma's Global Network
- 🇳🇬 Nigeria 45% of Placements
- 🇵🇠Philippines 35% of Placements
- 🇮🇳 India 20% of Placements
Why these countries?
- English is the primary language of instruction.
- Training standards align closely with UK requirements.
- High motivation for migration (95% retention rate).
The Process: Start to Placement (10-14 Weeks)
Sponsor Licence (Weeks 1-6)
We manage your Home Office application to become a licensed sponsor. This is a one-time setup.
Cost: £1,476 (One-off)Sourcing & Screening (Weeks 2-6)
While the licence processes, we screen candidates from our pool of 3,000+ nurses. We verify NMC eligibility, degrees, and English language scores.
Visa & Compliance (Weeks 7-10)
We issue the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and manage the visa application. Nurses typically pay for their own visas, or you can sponsor.
CoS Cost: £199/nurseArrival & Onboarding (Weeks 11-14)
We coordinate flights, accommodation, and bank setup. Nurses complete a supernumerary period and OSCE training.
Case Study: London Private Hospital
The Challenge
Needed 12 nurses urgently. Tried UK recruitment for 6 months with only 2 hires. Agency costs hit £105k/year for coverage.
The Result
All 12 nurses recruited from Nigeria/Philippines and working on the ward within 24 weeks.
Savings: £41,136 (39%)
+ 96% Retention after 2 Years
The 5-Year Financial Picture
The savings compound over time. Once a nurse is sponsored, your costs drop to near zero, whereas agency costs recur every shift.
Scenario: 10-bed unit needing 15 nurses.
| Model | Year 1 Cost | Year 5 Cost | Total 5-Year Spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Agency Reliance | £876,250 | £876,250 | £4,381,250 |
| International (Sigma) | £113,976 | £2,000 | £123,976 |
| Total Savings | £762,274 | £874,250 | £4,257,274 |
