Defending a Sponsor Licence: How We Helped a Hertfordshire Care Company Overturn a Home Office Investigation
For any business that relies on sponsored workers, a Home Office compliance investigation is one of the most serious threats it can face. A downgraded or revoked sponsor licence does not just affect the sponsored staff involved — it can put an entire workforce, and the future of the business itself, at risk. A recent case we handled for a long-established care company in Hertfordshire shows how the right response, prepared properly and quickly, can make all the difference.
Background
Our client was a care company that had been trading successfully for 20 years, holding multimillion-pound contracts with Hertfordshire County Council and employing more than 65 staff on a regular basis, including a number of workers on Skilled Worker visas.
The Home Office opened an investigation into the company’s sponsor licence, and its approach was, from the outset, an assertive one. Among the allegations raised was a claim that sponsored staff were being underpaid relative to their visa conditions — a serious compliance issue that, left unanswered, can lead to licence suspension or revocation, with obvious consequences for the workforce and the business’s contracts.
The company’s director contacted us directly and asked us to come in and take charge of the response.
Our Approach
Sponsor licence investigations demand a precise, evidence-led response — there is little room for a generalised or defensive reply. Once instructed, we:
- Attended the company in person to take detailed instructions from the director, going through every question and allegation raised by the Home Office line by line.
- Identified exactly what documentary evidence was needed to properly address each point — including payroll records, contracts, and HR documentation — and asked the client to gather it.
- Prepared a comprehensive, evidence-based response to every allegation, a process that took around seven to eight days given the scope of the issues raised.
- Had the response checked and verified with the client before submission, together with all supporting documentary evidence, to ensure accuracy and completeness.
The Home Office’s Follow-Up
Five days after our response was submitted, the Home Office came back requesting further information, specifically salary details and payslips for the relevant staff. We turned this around within 48 hours, again working closely with the client to ensure everything requested was supplied promptly and accurately.
The Outcome
Shortly afterwards, the Home Office confirmed that its investigation was complete, that there was nothing further to investigate, and that the company’s sponsor licence had been reinstated with an A-rating. No further action was required.
Why This Matters
This case is a clear illustration of what is at stake in sponsor licence compliance work — not just the licence itself, but the livelihoods of the sponsored staff who depend on it and the wider workforce and contracts a business has built over many years. A single unanswered or poorly evidenced allegation can put all of that at risk.
What made the difference here was a fast, thorough, and well-evidenced response — treating every allegation seriously, gathering the right documentary evidence from the outset, and maintaining close contact with the Home Office throughout. The director was, understandably, extremely relieved at the outcome: a 20-year-old business, its 65 staff, and its council contracts were all protected as a result.
If your business holds a sponsor licence and is facing a Home Office compliance visit, audit, or investigation, early specialist advice is critical. The window to respond effectively is often short, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be severe.
This article is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is decided on its own facts. If your business needs advice on sponsor licence compliance or a Home Office investigation, please contact our team.
