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UK-Switzerland seal mutual qualifications deal
Britain and Switzerland have entered into an agreement to recognise each other’s professional qualifications in sectors such as legal services, architecture and accounting.
The agreement, which will come into force at the end of next year when existing arrangements dating back to the UK’s membership of the EU expire, was signed by Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin just a month after the two nations opened talks over a comprehensive free-trade agreement.
Transferable qualifications
It will mean that qualified professionals will not have to fully re-qualify to work in the other’s nation, potentially boosting Anglo-Swiss trade.”Proving you have the right qualifications is key to winning contracts in regulated sectors such as law, architecture and audit,” said the Department for Business and Trade in London.
“Under the agreement, UK-qualified professionals in regulated sectors who wish to have their qualifications recognised in Switzerland will have a certain and transparent system to do so; and vice versa.”The department said the agreement includes a bespoke route regarding recognition for certain legal professionals, allowing lawyers to qualify in the other country after registration and a three-year practise period.
Ms Badenoch said: “Following the start of free trade deal talks last month, this agreement will hopefully ensure UK companies compete for more contracts in Switzerland in the future, boosting UK services exports, and encouraging new Swiss investment into the UK.”A department spokesman added that the deal also safeguards the autonomy of UK regulators to independently set and maintain standards and decide who is fit to practise professionally.
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