If a UK firm wants to employ non-UK residents (including EU nationals entering the UK from 1st January 2021), the employer must have a valid sponsor licence from the UK Home Office. Obtaining a sponsor licence can offer a range of benefits to a business, including the ability to hire skilled workers from overseas, foster workforce diversity, and enhance employee retention.
Sponsor licences are not limited to corporate companies or a specific industry but encompass a wider spectrum of businesses, including takeaway establishments.
Many employers have approached us, primarily driven by their staff shortage concerns. Takeaway owners such as Chinese Takeaway, Indian Takeaway, Turkish Takeaway, etc, have sought our assistance due to their struggles in locating skilled chefs, which could potentially jeopardize their businesses. Despite being small-scale takeaways, the question arises: Can a small Takeaway business apply for a sponsor licence to recruit skilled chefs from abroad?
The answer is Yes! As long as you have a genuine business in the UK and meet the requirements criteria while having the necessary supporting documents, you are eligible to apply for a sponsor licence.
Requirements for a Takeaway business to apply for a sponsor licence
- Your business is registered on the Companies House and is a genuine business model operating in the UK;
- Not have unspent criminal convictions for fraud, money laundering, immigration offences, and other crimes.
- Have an Authorising Officer in place to perform all sponsor obligations
- Have a robust HR system in place to manage sponsored employees
- Have no history of not carrying out sponsorship duties;
- Should not have had a sponsor licence revoked in the past year;
Documents needed for a Takeaway business to apply for a sponsor licence
Application for a UK sponsorship licence requires certain documents you need to provide to succeed. You’ll need to submit a minimum of 4 supporting documents from the list below:
- PAYE or Account Office reference letter from HMRC (PAYE reference number is mandatory)
- SIGNED Annual Accounts (it's mandatory if the business is over 18 months old)
- Minimum 1-month business bank statement, the bank needs to be registered and regulated by the FCA and PRA.
- Employer liability insurance certificate (minimum employee cover £5 million)
- Copy of Lease, freehold or Tenancy agreement
- Copy of regulatory approval, i.e. Health & Safety star rating for food businesses
- VAT Certificate (if registered)
Authorising Officer for Sponsor Licence Application
As part of the Sponsor License application for your Takeaway business, you must appoint an Authorising Officer (AO) to be in charge of the sponsor license and perform all sponsor obligations.
The AO must be permanently based in the UK for the period they fill the role. For example, someone who is a British Citizen or someone who has settled status in the UK.
HR system for Sponsor Licence Application
The Home Office requires the business to implement a robust HR system in place, they want to know if you’re able to manage the HR files properly and if you’re able to carry out the sponsorship duties once you are awarded a Sponsor Licence. Most common sponsorship duties are Monitoring and Maintaining immigration status, record keeping and reporting any circumstances to the Home Office.
Seeking Professional Assistance for Sponsor Licence Application
If you're considering applying for a sponsor licence for your takeaway business, seeking professional assistance from experienced immigration professionals can be invaluable.
As UK Sponsor Licence experts, here at WorkPermitCloud, we have assisted over 1000 companies in successfully obtaining their sponsor licences. We can assist you in the process of applying for your sponsor licence, guide you through the intricacies of the process, ensuring that your application is strong and compliant.
Contact us today to get your sponsor licence sorted.
