Hello newc2745
You haven't given much to go on about your girlfriend's work experience so I will just post what the guidance says:
For a business and commercial work permit:
12.To qualify for a Business and Commercial work permit the job must meet the following criteria:
EITHER – the job must require the following qualifications:
a) a UK equivalent degree level qualification; or
b) a Higher National Diploma (HND) level qualification which is relevant to the post on offer; or
c) a HND level qualification, which is not relevant to the post on offer plus one year of relevant full time work experience at National/Scottish
Vocational Qualification (N/SVQ) level 3 or above;
OR the job must require the following skills:
d) 3 years full time experience of using specialist skills acquired through doing the type of job for which the permit is sought. This should be at
N/SVQ level 3 or above....
15. The person should have the skills, qualifications and experience to enable them to do the job on offer. Also, the qualifications and skills of the person should be in line with the criteria outlined in paragraph 12.
So, just because a person doesn't have a degree, doesn't mean they cannot get a work permit.
If your girlfriend doesn't have the above qualifications/work experience then for a Training and Work Experience Scheme permit:
General TWES Criteria
16. The person must be additional to your normal staffing requirements. They must not be filling a position that would otherwise be filled by a ‘resident worker’. If the person is filling a vacancy you should apply for a Business and Commercial work permit on form WP1. This also applies to applications to employ trainee workers who will be filling a vacancy
whilst undergoing on the job training, for example trainee accountants, solicitors and pharmacists...............
........TWES Work Experience Criteria
32. The work experience should be at least at N/SVQ level 3 or equivalent.
33. The person should either:
(a) already have a relevant academic/vocational qualification of at least N/SVQ level 3 or equivalent; or
(b) have 12 months previous relevant experience at N/SVQ level 3 to enable them to benefit from a work experience programme; or
(c) be a student studying at a college overseas for a qualification relevant to the proposed work experience who has reached a level of study at or above N/SVQ level 3.
If she doesn't have at least 12 months relevant senior level experience in hospitality, or if one of those A level equivalents is not in business/tourism/hospitality then I think it will be very difficult to get TWES to work at the hotel.
Also, there is a problem because she appears to be filling a post and is not additional to normal staffing requirements from the little you have said.
As far as schools go, I have never heard of it happening. Nevertheless there would still be the same experience or qualification requirement whatever field she chose - the exp or quals would have to be relevant.
See the pdf guidance notes on the BIA website.
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workin ... rkpermits/
Have you thought about going to Australia?
Regards