WPC HR Blog
Sponsor Licence Compliance Insights & Updates
Clear, practical guidance for UK sponsor licence holders, covering Right to Work, SMS reporting duties, HR compliance, and what each Home Office change means for your licence.
Right to Work Records for Contractors: The Files, Process and Training HR Needs
Key Takeaways From 1 October 2026 the Right to Work Scheme reaches individuals engaged under a worker's contract, individual sub-contractors...
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Modern Slavery and Your Sponsor Licence: What HR Teams Must Be Able to Prove
Key Takeaways A modern slavery allegation is settled on the employer's paperwork, not on its intentions. Section 28 of the National Minimum...
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Sponsor Management System Multi-Factor Authentication: What HR Teams Must Do Now
Key Takeaways Mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for Sponsorship Management System users began on 3 September 2026. The Home Office...
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Settlement Reform: What the ILR Changes Mean for Employers
Key Takeaways Earned settlement is still a proposal, not law . The consultation closed on 12 February 2026 with more than 200,000 responses....
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Right to Work from 1 October 2026: A Readiness Guide for Employers
Key Takeaways From 1 October 2026 , the duty to prevent illegal working extends beyond employees. Section 48 of the Border Security, Asylum...
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Care Sector Sponsor Licence Compliance: The 2026 Guide for Care Providers
Key Takeaways Care is the most heavily enforced sector in UK sponsorship. More than 470 care sector sponsor licences have been revoked since...
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SOC Codes and Going Rates Explained: A Sponsor's Guide to Getting Skilled Worker Salaries Right
Key Takeaways Every sponsored role must pass two tests: it must be at the right skill level and it must meet the right salary . The four-dig...
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Illegal Working Civil Penalties: What Every Employer Needs to Know in 2026
Key Takeaways Civil penalties for employing someone without the right to work are £45,000 per worker for a first breach and £60,000 per work...
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Sponsor Licence Suspension, Downgrade and Revocation: What Happens When Compliance Fails
Key Takeaways Enforcement is at record levels. Around 3,100 sponsor licences were revoked in 2025 , the highest figure since records began i...
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The Authorising Officer Role: Responsibilities Every HR Team Must Know
Key Takeaways The Authorising Officer (AO) is the most senior person in your organisation responsible for recruiting sponsored workers and f...
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Preparing for a Home Office Compliance Visit: An HR Team's Checklist
Key Takeaways Home Office guidance for its own compliance officers states that visits should normally be unannounced . Planning on the basis...
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Appendix A: Supporting Documents for Your Sponsor Licence Application
Key Takeaways Appendix A is the Home Office guidance that lists the supporting documents you must submit with a sponsor licence application...
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Appendix D Explained: Getting Your Sponsor Records Audit-Ready
Key Takeaways Appendix D is the Home Office guidance that lists the documents every sponsor must keep for each sponsored worker. It goes bey...
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The Sponsor Management System (SMS): A Practical Guide for HR Teams
Key Takeaways The Sponsor Management System (SMS) is the Home Office's secure online portal and its live record of your compliance. Every ac...
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Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): An HR Manager's Guide to Getting It Right
Key Takeaways A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a unique digital reference, not a physical document, that a licensed sponsor assigns to...
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Sponsor Duties in 2026: The Complete Compliance Checklist for HR Teams
Key Takeaways Sponsor licence enforcement has hardened sharply. Around 3,100 licences were revoked in 2025, the highest number since records...
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Gig Economy and Construction Right to Work Rules: What Changes on 1 October 2026
Key Takeaways From 1 October 2026, the duty to carry out Right to Work checks extends beyond employees under Section 48 of the Border Securi...
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Share Code Right to Work Checks: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Teams
Key Takeaways A share code is a nine-character code beginning with the letter "W" that a worker generates from their UKVI account, so you ca...
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Right to Work Checks in 2026: The Complete Guide for HR Teams
Key Takeaways Every UK employer, sponsor licence holder or not, must complete a compliant Right to Work check before a new hire's first day,...
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