FTWiSS allowed non-EEA nationals who successfully complete a relevant Scottish degree or postgraduate qualification to work or set up a business in the UK for 24 months without needing a Work Permit. The principle of the scheme, and of its successor, is to retain skilled and educated graduates as part of the UK labour force, who will switch into a longer-term work scheme such as the Work Permit scheme or Tier 1 (General), formerly the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
FTWiSS, which allowed non-EEA nationals with Scottish degrees or postgraduate qualifications to work in the UK for 24 months without a work permit, aimed to retain skilled graduates by encouraging them to transition into longer-term work schemes like the Work Permit scheme or Tier 1 (General), formerly known as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.