Brexit fears used by Spanish headhunters to steal away UK STEM graduates
GETTY Headhunters are believed to be taking aim at graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths
Officials from an NGO attempting to keep skilled workers in the region are set to target UK-based Basques who migrated to the Britain to seek out greater salaries and shorter working days. The head of Bizkaia Talent, Ivan Jimenez claimed it is the "civic duty" of Basque citizens in the UK to return to their homeland. The Spanish region is one of the EU’s biggest producers of successful students. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Jimenez said: "You can absolutely say it is their civic duty to come back, but we are also offering them incentives.
"One of them is quality of life. “We can't pretend that we can compete with the UK on salaries but we can offer a better quality of life. "We also have an excellent education system, and another benefit is that they are able to live in their home country and raise their children there also."
Spain crisis: Protest outside the Catalan High Court Fri, September 22, 2017 Pro-Independence Associations called for a meeting in front of the Catalan High Court building demanding release of the 14 officials arrested yesterday during a Spanish Police operation in an attempt to stop the region's independence referendum, due to take place on October 1, which has been deemed illegal by the Spanish government in Madrid Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 8 People demonstrate in front of the Catalan High Court building
Headhunters are believed to be taking aim at graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Telegraph also reported that Mr Jimenez recently delivered a plea to 45 Basques in London to come back to prevent a “crack” in the Spanish region. But UK-based Basques were less than keen to give up their lives in Britain.
Queen Letizia of Spain in pictures Tue, September 19, 2017 Queen Letizia of Spain in pictures. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 130 Queen Letizia of Spain wears a monochrome optical illusion dress
One asked: "In the UK we have got lots of opportunities, we have got headhunters coming to us, so why would we want to go back?" A second added: “I am happy here...I work eight hours a day...if I go back I could be working 12 hours...they may even send me to Mexico or India...but here I have routine and stability." The headhunters have developed an app for upcoming graduates that allows them to be matched with relevant Spanish firms.
GETTY Mr Jimenez recently delivered a plea to 45 Basques in London to come back to Spain
The region has resorted to targeting second year students as many third years stay in the country where they received their education. The conjuring of Brexit fears has converted many UK graduates to consider a move back to Spain. One graduate said: "I always thought the UK was very welcoming but after Brexit things changed, I was very concerned by the attacks on Polish people for example.”
GETTY Spanish riot police used truncheons and rubber bullets on voters in the referendum on Sunday