British Cycling's Points Based System Governing Body Endorsement Requirements For Tier 2 (Sport) And Tier 5 (Sporting)

Under the government's new Points Based Managed Migration system clubs wishing to employ players and coaches from outside the European Economic Area need to do so through the Tier 2 or Tier 5 Points-based system. Such players and coaches with existing leave, however, will be able to continue in their current role up to the end of their permission to stay in the UK.

The sportspersons category of Skilled Tier 2 (sportspeople) of the Points Based System is for elite sports people and coaches who are internationally established at the highest level, whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in
the UK and who intend to base themselves in the UK.

The sportspersons category of Temporary Tier 5 (sporting) of the Points Based System is for internationally established sports people at the highest level in their sport and/or whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development and operation of that particular sport in the UK. It is also for coaches who must be suitably qualified to fulfill the role in question. This category is for temporary workers who come to the United Kingdom for up to 12 months.

As part of this process, clubs must obtain from British Cycling a Governing Body Endorsement; this applies to Sponsors (clubs) and Migrants (players and coaches).

Following the UK Border Agency's approval of British Cycling's Governing Body Endorsement Requirements, we are now in a position to issue endorsements to Sponsors and Migrants.

The Governing Body Endorsement Requirement document, together with the appropriate application form should be used when applying for endorsements.

In order to assess our requirements fully British Cycling has consulted with representatives from both the regional and main British Cycling Board along with representatives from Welsh Cycling and Scottish Cycling.

For further information on the Points Based Managed Migration System, please see the UK Border Agency website and for any further assistance you should contact the UK Border Agency Sponsorship and Employers' Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Requirements for Sponsors
Requests for endorsements will only be accepted from British Cycling, Welsh Cycling and Scottish Cycling.

Endorsements
Governing Body Endorsements will be issued for elite Performance Managers and coaches who are internationally established at the highest level, whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of the sport at the highest level in the UK and who intend to base themselves in the UK.

• Performance Managers will have to have demonstrated that they have coached, participated or managed a team of elite athletes to a World Class Level. The role of Performance Manager will include both coaching, team management and administration responsibilities.

• Coaches have to have demonstrated that they operate to a World Class Level and hold a coaching qualification commensurate with that level. This will include having coached athletes who have competed at a minimum level of World Cup Competition and that the coach will have the equivalent of a cycling Senior Coach/National Coaching Certificate Level 3 qualification.

• The sponsor must provide evidence of the individual's previous experience. This evidence must demonstrate that the individual is established at a World Class Level, and that their employment will make a significant contribution to the development of cycling and coaching in the UK. The coach / Performance Manager must provide a CV setting out their experience to date and must include:

o Coaches need to include evidence that they have at least 5 years experience working with athletes operating at a minimum of competing at international competition level. In addition coaches must demonstrate that they have either led or had a significant role in delivering a world-class programme including the provision of a structured training and competition programme.

o Performance Managers must include evidence that they have at least 5 years experience managing a team of elite athletes operating at a minimum of competing at international competition level. This will include all aspects of team management and co-ordinating all support services including coaching, sports science and team development. Alternatively Performance Managers must demonstrate that they have coached at an international level as stipulated in above. Performance Managers may be elite riders who can demonstrate success at World Class level over a period of at least 5 years.

Length of Issue
Governing Body Endorsements should be issued for a period appropriate to the period of approval for the tier under which the application is being made, that is:

Migrant Tier 2
Initial application: Length of contract or up to 3 years maximum, whichever is the shorter period. Extension application: Length of contract or up to 2 years maximum, whichever is the shorter period.

Migrant Tier 5
Initial application: Length of the contract or up to 12 months, whichever is the shorter period. No in-country extensions are possible if they take the migrant's stay in the UK to more than a total of 12 months.

Sponsor Tier 2 or Tier 5
For 4 years

Salary
Salary will negotiated based on the appropriate level for the role as compared to similar positions in other National Governing Body's taking into account the relative size of the organisation. The conditions of employment will be based on our standard Excellence employment contract, which covers all employees within the team both resident workers and those from abroad.

Change of employment and extension of Leave
Endorsement will only be given for employment by British Cycling, Welsh Cycling and Scottish Cycling.

Responsibility of the National Governing Body
Governing Body Endorsements are only to be issued subject to satisfactory
compliance with all immigration regulations, UK legislation and the principles of the Points Based System and will only be used to endorse applications from British Cycling, Welsh Cycling and Scottish Cycling.

Disputes
Any disputes will be dealt with by either British Cycling's Discipline or Grievance procedures, which can be located on the Library.

Review
These Endorsement Requirements are to be reviewed on a 12-month period in September of each year.

Contact
In the first instance, please contact Mrs Sarah Landry, HR Manager at British Cycling, Stuart Street, Manchester M11 4DQ, by telephone on 0161 274 2033 or email sarahlandry@britishcycling.org.uk.