黑洞社区

Architect Norman Foster has warned that Brexit is putting London鈥檚 ability to attract overseas talent at risk.

The founder of Foster & Partners made the comments in a statement accompanying the firm鈥檚 latest results with the country鈥檚 biggest architect seeing revenue for the year to April 2017 falling 5% to 拢245m with pre-tax profit slipping 10% to 拢25.2m.

The 82 year old peer (pictured) said: 鈥淲e thrive and contribute to the wealth of London by virtue of our ability to attract the best graduates from beyond our island nation.

鈥淭hat is a strength and should be recognised as such. London is a melting pot for international expertise and needs to maintain that edge. It is already under threat.鈥�

His practice employs close to 1,300 people which consists of 77 nationalities 鈥� the majority of whom are based in the firm鈥檚 London office 鈥� with the company saying that 39% are European, 38% from the UK and the remainder from the rest of the world.

He added: 鈥淲e owe it to future generations to look outwards, not inwards and to positively encourage the influx of talent. That attitude is inextricably linked to our shared economic future.鈥�

Foster鈥檚 comments come as former RIBA president Jack Pringle warned that last week鈥檚 leaked Home Office proposals about limiting the ability of EU nationals to work in the UK would prove 鈥渃atastrophic鈥� for the industry.

Writing in this week鈥檚 黑洞社区, he said: 鈥淭he Home Office wants the government to decide who can come in, not employers. That will be catastrophic.鈥�

The measures include offering residency for a maximum of only two years for lower skilled EU migrants while those in 鈥漢igh-skilled occupations鈥� will be granted permits to work for a longer period of three to five years.

Accusing Brexiteers of not having a plan, Pringle added: 鈥淓vents are moving quickly so this is no time for pussy-footing around. Our leaders in our professional bodies need to drop on these issues like a ton of bricks or we will find ourselves led by the neck by Home Office red tape to an isolationist, less talented and less capable future.鈥�

Last week Scape chief executive Mark Robinson said the government has no idea what to do about Brexit and its bungling over the past year was now put the industry at risk, with the boss of the public sector procurement organisation adding that the 鈥済overnment needs to get its act together and put a more positive plan in place鈥�.