BANKING and finance firms have been struggling to recruit staff since the EU referendum, a law firm has found.

The latest research by immigration law firm Migrate UK, based at Milton Park near Didcot, found that out of the 1,000 human resources directors polled, 66 per cent have struggled to find sufficient staff since the 2016 Brexit referendum, particularly in banking, finance and IT.

Research based on Office of National Statistics figures has also shown that nearly six out of 10 UK companies have paid up to £100,000 since Brexit in extra incentives for EU workers including pay rises.

Jonathan Beech, managing director at Migrate UK, said: “The Government’s recently proposed EU Settlement Scheme, granting settled status to EU citizens who have lived continuously in Britain for five years, will certainly help to stabilise the skills situation.

“But after two years of uncertainty, the Government needs to give some form of guarantee that the status of EU workers in the UK is legally binding and safeguarded against any threat of change in the future, otherwise EU workers will just continue to leave.

“Despite the Government’s recent proposed changes to the UK’s immigration rules, companies should have a sponsor licence in place as it’s likely organisations will need this in the future if EU citizens are brought under a sponsorship scheme.”

Migrate UK’s study involved organisations who currently employ more than 250 staff in the UK.