°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï

This guidance explains what you need to do to keep yourÌýFair Work Agency (FWA) gangmaster’sÌýlicence up to date.ÌýÌý

It covers:Ìý

• changing yourÌýPrincipalÌýAuthority (PA)Ìý

• nominatingÌýor changingÌýan alternative contactÌý

• changes to named individuals,ÌýdirectorsÌýand partnersÌý

• other changes you must tellÌýusÌýaboutÌý

• if yourÌýlegal entity changesÌý

• what happens if your business goes into bankruptcy,ÌýadministrationÌýor liquidationÌý

• licence transfersÌý

• how to renew a licence,Ìýincluding during an appealÌý

ChangingÌýyourÌýPrincipalÌýAuthority (PA)Ìý

Every licence must have a PA. They must be an employee of the businessÌýwho’sÌýresponsible for the day-to-day running of the business.Ìý

FWAÌýchecks and approvesÌýPAsÌýbefore they are added toÌýaÌýlicence.Ìý

IfÌýyou’reÌýa soleÌýtrader, youÌýcannot changeÌýyourÌýPA because the licence is issuedÌýtoÌýyouÌýpersonally.Ìý

How to request a changeÌý

°Õ³ó±ðÌý³¦³Ü°ù°ù±ð²Ô³Ù PA should contactÌýFWA to ask us to change theÌýPA.

If the current PA has left the business or has died, theÌýrequestÌýcan come from:Ìý

• an alternative contact already recorded withÌýFWAÌý

• a director or company secretary (for companies)Ìý

• an officer or governing member (for unincorporated associations)Ìý

• a partner (for partnerships)Ìý

We’llÌýthen send a form for the proposed PA to complete.ÌýWe’llÌýalso ask for proof of identity for the newÌýPA.Ìý

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

How FWA approves theÌýnewÌýPAÌý

AfterÌýwe get yourÌýform,Ìýwe’llÌýcheckÌýdetails about the new PAÌýwithÌýother government departments,ÌýregulatorsÌýand enforcement bodies.ÌýÌý

We mightÌýalsoÌýcontact youÌýor carryÌýout aÌýcomplianceÌýinspection.ÌýThere’s separate guidance on complianceÌýinspections.Ìý

If approved, the new PA will be authorised and listed on theÌý.

IfÌýwe decideÌýthe person is notÌýfit to act as aÌýgangmaster,Ìýwe’llÌýrefuse the request andÌýtell youÌýwhat this means for the licence.Ìý

While you wait for approvalÌý

Until the new PA is authorised, only people already named on the licence can supply workersÌýto the regulated sectors.Ìý

If no one else is named, the business must stop supplying workers to the regulated sectors.Ìý

In some cases,Ìýwe mightÌýtemporarily add a named individual so the business can continue trading.Ìý

NominateÌýorÌýchangeÌýan alternative contact for the PAÌýÌý

The PA canÌýcontact FWA for a form toÌýadd,ÌýchangeÌýor removeÌýan alternativeÌýcontact.ÌýYou can haveÌýmore thanÌý1Ìýalternative contacts.Ìý

The alternative contact canÌýhelpÌýmanage the licence and renew it.Ìý

The alternative contactÌýcannot:Ìý

• beÌýauthorised to act as a gangmasterÌý–Ìýthis means they cannot supply workers to the regulated sectorsÌý

• be named on the licenceÌý

• appear on the

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

Changes to named individuals, directors and partners

Named individualsÌý

A namedÌýindividualÌýis someoneÌýyou employ who negotiates with labour users and supplies workers.ÌýÌý

If your turnover isÌýless than £5 millionÌýÌýÌý

If your turnover inÌýtheÌýregulated sectors isÌýless than £5 million,Ìýall named individuals must be named on the licence.ÌýÌý

If they are not named on the licence, they cannot negotiate with labour users or supply workers.Ìý

The PA or alternative contactÌýcan contact usÌýforÌýtheÌýform toÌýadd or removeÌýa named individual.Ìý

We might do furtherÌýchecksÌýwithÌýother government departments,ÌýregulatorsÌýand enforcement bodies.ÌýÌý

We mightÌýalsoÌýcontact you or carry out aÌýcomplianceÌýinspection.ÌýThere’s separate guidance on complianceÌýinspections.

A namedÌýindividual is authorisedÌýonly forÌýtheÌýlicenceÌýthey’reÌýnamed on.ÌýIfÌýthatÌýlicence expires or is revoked, their authorisation ends.Ìý

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

If your turnoverÌýis £5 million or moreÌýÌý

If your turnover inÌýtheÌýregulated sectors isÌý£5ÌýmillionÌýor more, you can:Ìý

• have a named individual, orÌý

• listÌýtheÌýjob titlesÌýof all staff who are authorised toÌýnegotiate with labour users and supplyÌýworkersÌý–Ìýthese will appear on theÌý.

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

Directors, companyÌýsecretariesÌýand partnersÌý

Directors, companyÌýsecretariesÌýandÌýpartnersÌýareÌýnot automatically authorisedÌýto act as gangmasters.Ìý

TheÌýPA or alternative contact will need toÌýcontact usÌýto add them to the licence. We’ll then send them the authorisation form.

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

Other changes you mustÌýtell us aboutÌý

The licence holder must tell usÌýwithinÌý20 working daysÌýif:Ìý

• your trading name changes or you start using a new oneÌý

• the PA, a director, companyÌýsecretaryÌýor partner is convicted of a criminal offence or receives a civil sanctionÌý

• your contact details changeÌý– for example, youÌýaddress, emailÌýorÌýphone numberÌý

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

Changes to your legal entityÌý

Licensing standardÌý1.4 covers changes to your legal entity.Ìý

If your legal entity changes,Ìýfor example you become a new company,Ìýyou mustÌýapplyÌýfor a newÌýgangmaster’sÌýlicence.Ìý

The new entityÌýcannot trade under the old licence.ÌýÌý

If youÌýoperateÌýas a group, each company must hold its own licence.Ìý

ContactÌýusÌýas early as possible to avoid unlicensed trading.ÌýÌý

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

Bankruptcy,ÌýadministrationÌýor liquidationÌý

Licensing standardÌý1.4 covers bankruptcy,ÌýadministrationÌýand liquidation.Ìý

BankruptcyÌý

The licence holder must tellÌýusÌýwithinÌý20 working daysÌýif bankruptcy proceedings start against them. We’llÌýthenÌýassessÌýifÌýtheyÌýremainÌýfit to hold a licence.Ìý

AdministrationÌý

The licence holder mustÌýtellÌýusÌýwithinÌý20 working daysÌýifÌýtheÌýcompany enters administration.Ìý

You must give:Ìý

• reasons for the administrationÌý

• details of the appointed administratorÌý

WeÌýmay revokeÌýyourÌýlicence.Ìý

If another business buys assets or takes over trading, it must apply for its own licence.Ìý

LiquidationÌý

The licence holder mustÌýtellÌýusÌýwithinÌý20 working daysÌýifÌýtheÌýcompany is liquidated, wound up or dissolved.Ìý

You must give:Ìý

• reasons for liquidationÌý

• details of the liquidatorÌý

We’llÌýrevoke or expireÌýthe licence if the business no longer exists.ÌýYou could be prosecuted if you trade after your licence is cancelled.Ìý

Contact usÌýby email atÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk,Ìýor callÌý0345 161 6000.

Licence transfersÌý

The licence holder can request to transfer a licence before it expires, but we’ll normally refuse.

Any new legal entity must apply for its own licence.Ìý

Transfers cannot be requested after a licence has expired.Ìý

A licence expires if:Ìý

• it is not renewed before the expiry dateÌýÌý

• your Companies House number or Unique Taxpayer Reference changesÌý

LicenceÌýrenewalsÌý

A gangmasters licence lasts for 1 year. The expiry date isÌýon the licence certificate.ÌýIt’sÌýyour responsibility to checkÌýit’sÌýin date.Ìý

YouÌýcan  You can do this 6 weeks before your licence expires.

We’llÌýalso send you this link in a reminder email 6 weeks before your licence expires. Check your email spam folder if you do not get a reminder. You should also addÌýlicensing@fairworkagency.gov.ukÌýto your safe senders list.Ìý

If you do not renew in time, the licence will beÌýexpired.Ìý

You must still renew in the normal wayÌýif your licence is being revoked without immediate effect and you want to continue trading during the appeal period.