Abstract

This study explores the perspectives of technology companies in the Northeast United Kingdom on the employability of international student graduates, with a focus on aligning human resource (HR) strategies with business needs. The research aims to identify the key skills and attributes valued by employers, assess how international graduates meet these expectations, and analyse the challenges associated with recruiting and integrating them into the workforce. Using a qualitative methodology, six semi structured interviews were conducted with HR managers and business leaders from the regional tech sector. The findings reveal persistent barriers related to communication skills, CV customisation, and visa regulations, with sponsorship costs disproportionately affecting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Employers often favour local candidates due to administrative and financial constraints linked to immigration compliance. In response, the study proposes a multi stakeholder framework involving universities, employers, and policymakers to support international graduate integration. The findings contribute practical insights for improving employability outcomes and strengthening the alignment between higher education and labour market needs in the UK’s regional tech ecosystem. This study explores the perspectives of tech companies in the Northeast United Kingdom on the employability of international student graduates, with a focus on aligning human resource (HR) strategies with business needs. The research aims to identify the key skills and attributes that these companies value, assess the international graduates’ skills in meeting these expectations, and analyze the challenges in recruiting and integrating these graduates into the workforce. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study involved conducting six semi-structured interviews with HR managers and business leaders from the Northeast UK tech sector. The findings reveal significant challenges, including difficulties with CV customization, cultural differences, and the complexities of visa policies. In particular, the study highlights several barriers to employability, such as stringent visa regulations and the financial burden of sponsorship, which particularly affect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The findings reveal that tech companies often prefer local candidates due to the administrative and financial challenges associated with sponsoring international graduates. Based on these insights, the study recommends a more integrated approach to addressing employability challenges. A three-tier framework is proposed involving universities, employers, and policymakers to support the integration of international graduates into the UK tech workforce, thereby fostering a diverse and competitive industry. These findings can inform more effective HR strategies, improve the alignment between higher education and industry needs, and ultimately lead to better employment outcomes for international graduates in the regional tech sector.