‘Relax visa rules’ plea

Leading figures from the creative industries have backed calls for Britain to relax visa rules for foreign workers or risk harming its competitiveness in the global war for talent.

Chris Hirst, chief executive of WPP advertising agency Grey London, said he has encountered “insane” problems with hiring foreign talent. “They need to want to come here to work and we need to be able to get them hired,” he said.

Mr Hirst, who was speaking at a London Design Festival panel organised by branding agency Landor, warned there was a wider problem about “the impression that we’re giving to the rest of the world”.

Peter Knapp, global creative officer of Landor, urged national and local government bodies to work together to woo foreign talent.