Meet the Sponsor Licence Key Personnel: Level 1 User

As a licenced sponsor, Key Personnel are appointed to operate the SMS. They each play defined and vital roles in the management of the sponsor licence. The Key Personnel roles are:

• Authorising Officer (AO)
• Key Contact (KC)
• Level 1 User
• Level 2 User

For organisations who sponsor overseas workers, the Level 1 User is the person responsible for the day-to-day management of the sponsor licence. Level 1 Users are able to perform actions on the SMS including: applying to renew a sponsor licence, assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to a worker, and reporting changes in migrant and organisational circumstances.

Whilst a Level 1 User manages the licence, only the AO and KC receive correspondence about the licence directly from the Home Office.

There must be at least one Level 1 User on an organisation’s SMS who is an employee, partner or director throughout the lifetime of the sponsor licence. There can be more than one Level 1 User on a sponsor’s SMS. It is recommended that an organisation has enough Level 1 Users to cover any periods of leave or sickness.

A legal representative is able to act as a Level 1 User on a sponsor’s SMS. It is important to note that a representative can only be appointed as a Level 1 User once a licence is granted and they have been added as a legal representative.

As with the other Key Personnel, there are a number of requirements that an individual must meet in order to be appointed a Level 1 User. For example, the Level 1 User must not have any unspent criminal convictions.

The Level 1 User is an essential role for all sponsor licence holders. It is essential that there is a Level 1 User in place throughout the period which they hold a licence, otherwise the sponsor will be non-compliant and risk compliance action from the Home Office. Potential actions which the Home Office can take, owing to non-compliance, depends on the nature and severity of the breach. It is therefore vital that the Home Office Level 1 User requirements are adhered to and that any changes to Level 1 Users on the sponsor licence are reported.

If you would like assistance managing your licence, Stone King are able to register as a Level 1 User on your SMS. We can shoulder the day-to-day management on your behalf, allowing you to focus your attention where it is most needed. Further information on this service can be found here.

If you require any assistance with sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact our Head of Immigration, Julie Moktadir at JulieMoktadir@stoneking.co.uk.