I never realised an emplyer had to pay to hire a non eea worker .. and that cost may well double
That's part of why a lot of companies prefer to hire people who do not need sponsorship - the hoops they have to go through in order to register as a sponsor and then actually sponsor someone are often not worth their time or money.
Currently, the fees an employer or education institution has to pay to become a sponsor are:
Tier 2 large sponsor licence (may also include Tier 4 and/or Tier 5) = £1,476
Tier 2 small sponsor licence (may also include Tier 4 and/or Tier 5 ) = £536
Tier 4 sponsor licence = £536
Tier 5 sponsor licence = £536
Add Tier 2 to an existing Tier 4 &/or Tier 5 licence (large sponsor) = £940
Basic compliance assessment (previously 'Tier 4 Sponsor status') = £536
Sponsor action plan = £1,476
And the fees they have to pay in order to get a sponsorship certificate to employ someone (after they have paid to become a sponsor):
Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) = £199
Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) = £21
Tier 4 Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) = £21