Supporting Economic Migrants in the North West of England

This article considers the characteristics and experiences of economic migrants arriving in the UK from the `A8' Accession countries following the enlargement of the EU in 2004. Through case study analysis focused on the north west of England, the article attempts to fill gaps in knowledge of A8 migrant worker communities and their local and regional impact. This is particularly pertinent given that the vast majority of research to date in the UK has been on economic migrants in London, the East and the South East. Consequently the article focuses on the role of A8 migrants in contributing towards regional economic objectives. It is highlighted that a number of issues appear to be impacting upon the most `effective' use of skilled A8 migrant labour in the North West, including (1) recruitment and selection procedures by employers and foreign recruitment agencies and (2) language barriers and access to relevant information/support services. The implications for regional and local policies are subsequently discussed.