The UK's five largest business organisations have joined forces with 30 trade associations to offer the government their help in designing a new immigration system.

The British Chambers of Commerce, CBI, Federation of Small Businesses, IOD and MakeUK have signed a letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel, along with trades associations from hoteliers to universities.

The signatories say they welcome recent indications from government about reducing the £30,000 salary test and scrapping the net migration target, which "have sent positive and important signals around the world that the UK is open for business".

The letter continues: “Business understands that the immigration system must change in order to re-build public confidence. Insight from enterprise can help build a points-based model that provides greater control, whilst providing access to the labour and skills needed to support the economy.

"And this can go hand in hand with a continued determination to invest in training home grown talent."

The letter concludes: “The economy needs a simple, streamlined and affordable system that meets business’ needs of all sizes, sectors and across all UK regions and nations.

“We look forward to working with the new government to inform the detailed design of a new immigration system in a way that commands public confidence and supports the UK’s global ambitions.”

Jo James, chief executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, added: "From a Kent perspective we need to ensure that the systems put in place to allow access to a European workforce is fit for purpose.

"The current system in place for non-EU workers is certainly cumbersome and not business friendly.

"We will be urging the government to see this as an opportunity to set up a process that is more efficient for business irrespective of where in the world prospective workers come from. Simply extending the current system to EU workers would be a backward step and a lost opportunity."

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