The Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES) work permit enable people to gain skills and experience through work-based learning which they can then use back in their own country. Home Office approve TWES permits on the understanding that the person intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of the agreed period to use their new skills and experience. It is important to note that a Bulgarian and Romanian national who is subject to worker authorisation and who holds a TWES permit will not be allowed to transfer to work permit employment.

Home Office issue TWES permits if a person needs to dowork-based training for a professional or specialist qualification; or a period of work experience. If a person will be filling a post which would otherwise be done by a resident worker, then you will need to apply under the Business and Commercial arrangements.

You can make a TWES application if:

• you are an employer based in the United Kingdom; and
• you can employ an employee and have a genuine vacancy for an employee in the United Kingdom; and
• you are responsible for the post and the delivery of any project or piece of work; and
• the gross pay and conditions are what you would give a resident worker doing similar training or work experience and meet;
• the national minimum wage; and
• the employment meets the United Kingdom legislation and you have ensured that you and your employee have obtained any necessary registration or licensing; and
• the post is additional to your normal staffing requirements; and
• the person has not had a TWES permit previously; and
• the person is going to be doing work experience or training for minimum of 30 hours per week; and
• the entry level to qualify for the training or work experience is at national/Scottish vocational qualification (N/SVQ) level three or equivalent; and
• the person has the suitable skills, qualifications and/or experience; and
• the person speaks English to a level where they will be able to understand what they are being taught; and
• our company and the person doing the managing and training should be able to do so properly.

All training should be completed in the shortest possible time and you must inform Home Office when the individual has finished. The individual will be allowed two attempts to take their exams and we only issue TWES permits for a person to achieve a single qualification only.

Medical Training Initiative (MTI) - This category is appropriate for overseas post-graduate medical specialists who are training in the United Kingdom, normally with the National Health Service (NHS). It covers all schemes and arrangements sponsored or administered by the medical royal colleges. Participation in the MTI is not intended to lead to settlement in the United Kingdom. MTI permits will be granted for the period of training to a maximum period of 24 months.