As a UK employer with a sponsor licence, are you confident your team knows how to use the Sponsor Management System properly? One simple mistake could cost your business thousands of pounds in penalties or even result in losing your sponsor licence entirely.
The Home Office’s Sponsor Management System (SMS) isn’t just another admin tool – it’s the lifeline that keeps your international recruitment strategy alive. Yet many businesses put their entire operation at risk by not properly training their staff to use it.
SMS training teaches your staff how to correctly use the Home Office’s Sponsor Management System. This online platform manages every aspect of your sponsorship duties, from assigning Certificates of Sponsorship to reporting employee changes.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Without proper training, your business faces:
Many business leaders underestimate how quickly SMS mistakes can escalate. System errors can have severe consequences for both employers and their sponsored workers. Misuse, intentional or accidental, can result in substantial financial penalties imposed by the Home Office, often reaching thousands of pounds.
Consider these common scenarios that destroy businesses:
Each mistake doesn’t just cost money – it threatens your ability to access global talent pools that drive business growth.
Leadership teams must ensure these key personnel receive comprehensive SMS training:
Essential Staff for Training
Your business needs SMS training if you’re:
Investing in SMS training delivers immediate returns for your organisation:
Risk Mitigation
Operational Efficiency
Strategic Advantages
The SMS operates on a two-tier access system that requires specific training for each level:
Level 1 Users: Your SMS Champions
Level 1 Users are an organisation’s primary SMS administrators. They have full access to all functions within the system and are responsible for its day-to-day management.
Level 1 responsibilities include:
Level 2 Users: Specialist Support
Level 2 Users have more restricted access to the SMS. They can perform specific tasks as determined by the Level 1 user.
Level 2 capabilities typically cover:
Certificate of Sponsorship Management
Every international hire requires a Certificate of Sponsorship. A Certificate of Sponsorship is a virtual document that a licensed sponsor issues to a worker they wish to hire from overseas.
Training covers:
Mandatory Reporting Requirements
The Home Office requires that most changes be reported within 10 working days. Your staff must know how to report:
Compliance Visit Preparation
The Home Office conducts unannounced compliance visits to ensure sponsors adhere to their sponsorship duties.
Your team must be ready with:
The Home Office doesn’t issue warnings. If compliance issues are identified, the Home Office may suspend the organisation’s sponsor licence pending further investigation. During a suspension period, sponsors cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship.
Compliance failures can result in:
As specialist employment law solicitors and business immigration consultants, we understand the pressures facing UK employers. Our SMS training programmes are designed specifically for business leaders who need their teams to get it right first time.
Flexible Training Options
What’s Included
Training Outcomes
After completing our SMS training, your team will confidently:
We’re not just trainers – we’re specialist employment law solicitors and immigration consultants who understand the legal complexities facing UK businesses. Our training combines practical system knowledge with deep legal expertise.
Our expertise includes:
Client-focused approach:
Don’t let SMS mistakes threaten your business’s future. Every day without proper training increases your compliance risk and potential for costly penalties.
Your next steps:
The cost of training is minimal compared to the price of getting SMS wrong. Protect your sponsor licence, your international recruitment capability, and your business reputation.
Disclaimer
The material contained on this website contains general information only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. While every care has been taken in the preparation of the information on this site, readers are advised to seek specific advice in relation to any decision or course of action.
