Right to work check audit service
All UK employers are required to prevent illegal working by ensuring that employees have a right to work in the UK.
Protect your business from up to £60,000 in civil penalties per illegal worker by ensuring your employees have a right to work.
- Are you content that your right to work checks are carried out correctly?
- Do you have robust policies and procedures in place?
- Are relevant staff trained to ensure that all right to work checks are compliant, whether manually or online by using a share code?
- Would you have a statutory excuse against civil penalty in the event of illegal working?
If you cannot answer yes, then the potential consequences are severe! Now is the best time to address any issues. Why, you may ask?
- Home Office enforcement activity has drastically increased in line with its broader clamp down on illegal working. In January 2025, 828 premises were visited – almost double the figure in January 2024. The number of arrests made has also increased by 73% over the last year.
- Proposed changes will enforce a requirement to conduct right to work checks on gig economy and zero-hours workers.
- Civil penalties are now higher. Since February 2024, the starting point for a first breach is £45,000 and up to £60,000 for subsequent illegal workers identified.
- Risk of reputational damage to the business as the Home Office publish a list, effectively naming and shaming those who have breached.
- The potential impact on your sponsor licence. A single civil penalty has the potential to result in revocation of your licence.
- Business interruption caused by loss of resource, which may lead to inability to fulfil contracts and ultimately loss of revenue.
- Finally, even the very continuation of the business if disruption is severe or you cannot afford to pay the penalties.
How can we help?
Our new right to work check audit service will assist you with taking positive action to ensure you are compliant. It aims to provide you with reassurance that your right to work checks are carried out correctly and that you would benefit from a statutory excuse in the event of Home Office allegations of illegal working. If any risks are identified, we can help you to take positive action.
For a one-off fixed fee, our Right to Work Audit will:
- Check the right to work status for employees and provide a simple RAG rating,and
- Provide follow-up advice based on the results of your right to work audit
- Provide current, Immigration Lawyer-led right to work training to your HR team or direct to hiring managers
- Review and enhance your right to work processes or develop these from scratch based on your requirements.
We offer the same service on a subscription basis, at a lower cost per audit, so you can rest assured that your exposure to high Civil Penalties is significantly reduced.
We can also:
- Assist you with additional audits, if required.
- Conduct mock compliance (in person or remotely).
- Ensure your right to work checking policies are up to date or assist with new policies.
- Provide training for your staff.
- Work with you to respond to an Information Request from Immigration Enforcement.
- Advise you on grounds of objection if to a Civil Penalty Notice.
- Assist you with any immigration matters, providing advice, support and effectively acting as an extension to your HR Team. Further details are here: Immigration solicitors for businesses and individuals | Weightmans
Ready to find out more?
Our dedicated team are on hand to assist with any of your queries. Fill in the form to learn more about how you could benefit from this service or contact Carolyn Bowie directly via the details below.
Speak to our immigration experts
Carolyn Bowie