Hardworking Bermudians with exceptional skills, abilities or experience will now be able to seek permission to work in the UK under a new British government initiative which will come into force this month.

The "Highly Skilled Migrant Programme" was launched last month in Britain by Home Office Minister Lord Rooker and, from this month, applications will be assessed on a points-based system of qualifications and experience.

While Bermudians wanting to work in Europe will have to wait until June to get a full British passport, this may be a way of getting through the immigration process earlier but anyone applying will have to earn more than ?40,000 to be considered.

Applicants must obtain a minimum of 75 points from five scoring areas. Four evolve around educational qualifications; work experience; past earnings and achievements in chosen field while the fifth is a specific category for recruiting suitably qualified overseas doctors to work as GPs in the UK.

Lord Rooker, the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, said: "At the moment it is not possible for individuals, other than those with ancestral ties to the UK, to come to this country to seek and take up work without a job offer. This makes it difficult to attract highly mobile people with the special talents that are required in a modern economy. This programme is specifically designed to help highly skilled migrants come to the UK and seek work."

Employers do not have to obtain a work permit for the individual or provide a detailed business plan or invest in the UK. The scheme will initially be run as a concession outside the current immigration rules in the UK.

Lord Rooker said: "This programme represents a further step in developing our immigration system to maximise the benefits to the UK of highly skilled workers who have the qualifications and skills required by UK businesses to compete in the global marketplace.

"It will allow eminent scientists to base their research projects here, should encourage the movement of business and financial experts to the City of London and give those at the top of their chosen profession the choice of making the United Kingdom their home."

The programme will run for an initial period of 12 months and will begin on January 28, 2002.

Applications must be made before entry into the UK and can be obtained through the Home Office or Foreign & Commonwealth Office web sites.

Successful applicants will be granted leave to enter the UK for one year and after this further leave to remain will be granted where evidence of employment is supplied.

Details of the scheme can be viewed on the Home Office website. The website will also provide full details of how individuals make their applications. The debate from the UK Parliament can be found at: