The country’s five biggest business organisations have joined forces to offer the Government help in shaping its new policy for immigrant workers from the European Union after Brexit.

The British Chambers of Commerce, CBI, Federation of Small Business, Institute of Directors and Made UK – along with 30 trade associations ranging from the tourism and hospitality sector to academia – have written to Home Secretary Priti Patel offering their support.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAG) is due to publish its report recommending the way forward on immigration when the UK leaves the EU next week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly considering an Australian-style points system for a policy that, up until now, has centred on a proposed £30,000 minimum salary threshold for EU workers.

Tourism business and organisations in Cumbria have expressed alarm at the wage cap – which is almost double the average hospitality wage in the county of £17,000 – and raised concerns that the points-based threshold could be set too high for non-skilled workers.

Around a third of the county’s 65,000-strong tourism workforce is from outside the UK, with the overwhelming majority from Europe.

Echoing concerns in Cumbria that the policy could severely hinder efforts to recruit ooverseas staff, the letter sets out four key priorities for the Government to consider “to ensure the new system works on day one for all UK regions and nations”.

The signatories want a minimum salary threshold at a level that supports the economy; a flexible points-based system for skilled workers to enter the UK; a temporary visa route that supports all sector of the economy; and a radically reformed sponsorship process in place for the first day of operation.

The letter reads: “Business understands that the immigration system must change in order to re-build public confidence.

“Insight from enterprise can help build a points-based model that provides greater control, whilst providing access to the labour and skills needed to support the economy.

“And this can go hand in hand with a continued determination to invest in training home grown talent.

“We look forward to working with the new government to inform the detailed design of a new immigration system in a way that commands public confidence and supports the UK’s global ambitions.”

The business organisations, along with tourism leaders in Cumbria, have cautiously welcomed a potential shift in the wage threshold and the points-based system approach.

The MAG is understood to be considering lowering the proposed £30,000 threshold to £22,000.

Meanwhile, Cumbria Tourism has written all of the county’s six MPs seeking their support on the points threshold issue as part of its continued efforts to lobby the Government on the issue.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron is due to meet with business minister Kelly Tolhurst to discuss a policy he branded as “awful”.