Vanessa writes article warning HR teams about right to work changes for sponsors

14 April 2026

Vanessa Ganguin’s latest article in HR Magazine warns sponsors about significant changes with the backdrop of a recent rise in enforcement activities by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

One of the major changes for employers with a sponsor licence is that they must check that any worker they engage – whether sponsored or not – has the right to work. This now includes all those they “directly engage” as well as employees.

This is a significant development and we have written to the Home Office asking for more clarity for our clients. In the meantime, Vanessa warns: “Most will not have been carrying out right to work checks on self-employed workers and will be unaware of their status as it has not been a requirement.

“The wording of the new sponsorship guidance suggests sponsors should now check the status of all self-employed, zero-hour and other directly engaged contractors to protect against the loss of their licence to sponsor workers. “Sponsors may want to take legal advice on how best to protect themselves in the light of this new guidance.”

You can read the full article which covers this and other substantial changes for sponsoring employers below.