Visa-sponsoring employers in Bristol
1,233 employers in Bristol hold a Skilled Worker licence (register, 5 October 2026). Here's what that means for your search.
Home Office register,
The short answer
1,242
Skilled Worker licences in Bristol
Home Office register, 5 October 2026
Bristol has the 6th highest count of the 493 towns with a page on Visavi. 1,242 of those licences carry an A rating, and none carries a B rating. Within about 25 miles, another 802 Skilled Worker licences list one of 46 other towns.
Counted by the register's own town column, Bristol's Skilled Worker licences are 1.0% of the 123,132 Skilled Worker licences on the register.
Counting every licence route, 1,296 organisations in Bristol hold a sponsor licence of some kind.
Besides Skilled Worker, the licence routes held most often here are Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker (119), Tier 2 Ministers of Religion (25) and Creative Worker (22).
117 of the Skilled Worker sponsors in Bristol also hold a Global Business Mobility licence, the routes that bring an overseas employer's staff to work in the UK.
By registered name, 70 have "tech", "software", "digital" or "data" in their name; 67 have "care" or "healthcare" in their name; and 50 have "restaurant", "kitchen", "cafe" or "food" in their name.
The nearest towns with their own page are Bath (12 miles, 195 licences), Wells (17 miles, 27 licences), Weston-super-Mare (18 miles, 79 licences) and Trowbridge (19 miles, 33 licences).
| Licence route | Count |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 1,242 |
| Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker | 119 |
| Tier 2 Ministers of Religion | 25 |
| Creative Worker | 22 |
| International Sportsperson | 19 |
| Rating | Licences |
|---|---|
| A rating | 1,242 |
| B rating | 0 |
A rating includes the A (Premium) and A (SME+) labels. A B rating generally means the employer cannot sponsor new workers until it is back to an A rating.
Examples from the register
- Airbus Operations Limited
- Amcor Europe Group Management
- Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
- Bilfinger Piping Technologies UK Ltd
- Cinegy Ltd
- Clemessy UK Ltd
- Cookpad Limited
- GKN Aerospace Services - Filton
These employers also hold a Global Business Mobility licence. They are examples from the register, not a sign that any of them is hiring.
Questions people ask
How many companies in Bristol sponsor visas?
On 5 October 2026, the Home Office register listed 1,242 Skilled Worker licences in Bristol, one for each organisation and town, and 1,296 organisations there held a sponsor licence of some kind. Within about 25 miles, another 802 Skilled Worker licences list one of 46 other towns.
Are the visa sponsors in Bristol A-rated?
All 1,242 Skilled Worker licences in Bristol carry an A rating, and none carries a B rating (register, 5 October 2026). A B rating generally means the employer cannot sponsor new workers until it is back to an A rating.
How can I check if a company in Bristol can sponsor a visa?
Search its name in the Visavi sponsor check, which reads the same Home Office register. A licence means they can sponsor. It is not a promise that they will. Employers on the register here include Airbus Operations Limited, Amcor Europe Group Management and Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited.
What this means for your search in Bristol
- Check the licence first. An employer needs a licence to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa. Use the sponsor check. The register changes often and lists legal names, which can differ from a brand name. Check the latest register on gov.uk before you rule an employer out.
- Read the advert's sponsorship line. "Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK" is a no, even from a licensed employer.
- Check the salary. Usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate. For new entrants, the higher of £33,400 and 70% of the going rate. See salary thresholds and going rates.
- After an offer, ask about the Certificate of Sponsorship. See what to ask.
Full routine: How to find a job that sponsors your visa in the UK. Rules change: always check gov.uk.