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Wednesday 16 December 2026 | Live online webinar | Free to attend
As 2026 draws to a close, how confident are you that your organisation's sponsor licence records, reporting arrangements and compliance procedures are ready for the year ahead?
Sponsor compliance is not something employers can leave until the Home Office announces a visit. Reporting failures, inconsistencies between sponsored workers' actual employment and their Certificates of Sponsorship, or weaknesses in right-to-work procedures can create significant risks.
In this practical year-end webinar, Immtell's Gavin Webster and Ewen McKenzie will examine the areas sponsors should review before entering 2027.
Drawing on their experience within the Home Office and advising UK employers, they will explain where compliance weaknesses commonly arise, what sponsors should be checking and how to prioritise corrective action.
What we'll cover
- SMS records and reporting: Are your organisation's details and sponsored-worker records accurate and up to date?
- Sponsored workers: Do job duties, salaries, working hours and work locations reflect the sponsorship arrangements?
- Right-to-work compliance: Are checks being conducted correctly, with the appropriate evidence retained?
- Record-keeping: Could you produce the information a Home Office Compliance Officer might request?
- Internal responsibilities: Do your Authorising Officer, Level 1 Users, HR and payroll teams understand their obligations?
- Planning for 2027: What should employers prioritise to strengthen their compliance arrangements?
Who should attend?
This webinar is intended for Authorising Officers, Level 1 Users, HR directors and managers, business owners and anyone responsible for maintaining a UK sponsor licence.
Hear from former Home Office officers
Ewen McKenzie, Immtell's Head of Sponsor Compliance, is a former Home Office Regional Compliance Manager who now leads sponsor compliance reviews, mock audits and salary reviews for employers.
Gavin Webster, Immtell's Managing Director, has 23 years of UK immigration experience, including operational roles within the Home Office and senior positions at EY, PwC and Vialto Partners.
Together, they bring both the Home Office's perspective and practical experience of helping businesses meet their sponsorship obligations.
Register for the free webinar
Join us on Wednesday 16 December 2026 for a practical discussion about protecting your sponsor licence and preparing for the year ahead.
Frequently asked questions
What should a sponsor licence holder check before the end of the year?
Review SMS details, sponsored workers' job duties, salaries and work locations, right-to-work evidence, personnel records and reporting procedures. Check that changes have been identified and reported where required.
Does the Home Office require an annual sponsor licence audit?
Sponsor licence holders are not generally required to commission an annual external audit. However, sponsors must comply with their duties continuously, and periodic internal reviews can help identify problems before a Home Office compliance check.
Can the Home Office conduct a compliance check remotely?
The Home Office can conduct sponsor compliance checks remotely by requesting documents and information as well as conducting announced or unannounced compliance visits. Employers should be able to demonstrate that their systems work in practice.
What if we discover an unreported change or an error in our records?
Establish what happened, assess whether an SMS report was required, correct the records and consider any further action needed. The appropriate response depends on the nature and timing of the issue.
Who is responsible for sponsor licence compliance?
The sponsor organisation is responsible for meeting its duties. The Authorising Officer has overall responsibility for the sponsorship system, while Level 1 Users and relevant HR, payroll and operational staff need clear procedures for their roles.
