Education Providers

Education Providers

We advise higher and further education providers, English language centres and independent schools and are regarded as having ‘an unparalleled reputation in the sponsor licensing sphere‘ (The Legal 500).

Working with numerous organisations, including UKCISA, London Higher, Independent HE, British Council, English UK, the Independent Schools Council, the Boarding Schools’ Association and Westminster Higher Education Forum, on key issues affecting the sector, we are often invited to speak at conferences and/or provide high level training in addition to our regular client work.

Our clients are based across the UK and benefit from our unique contacts within the Home Office, our ability to resolve potential issues at an early stage, our discreet approach and our highly competitive pricing structure.

Sponsor licence management service
We can provide you with advice on the most effective way to apply for, structure and operate your student or worker sponsor licence(s).

If needed, we can take over the management of your worker sponsor licence including assigning CoS, preparing immigration applications for your workers and ensuring your licence is up to date.

Compliance review service (‘mock audit’)
We provide a bespoke compliance review service, and preparation for UKVI audits, for education providers holding a sponsor licence. This can cover both students and workers.

Subject to your needs, this may involve:

  • a partner-led compliance review of your systems, procedures, files, risk profile and any specific areas you are concerned about. A report is produced setting out key areas of concern and action needed;
  • mock interviews to prepare for UKVI audits;
  • advice on measures you can adopt immediately to begin to minimise risk.

At the beginning we will spend time discussing your specific needs and priorities and we will tailor our service accordingly. In line with our overall approach to legal costs, our pricing structure for on-site training and compliance reviews is competitive and transparent.

Sponsor licence suspensions, revocations and other enforcement action
We have substantial experience advising clients that are subject to UKVI enforcement action and investigations and have persuaded UKVI on numerous occasions to allow sponsors threatened with enforcement action to retain their licences.

If your organisation is affected, we will be on hand to advise you on the legal options and risks, make recommendations, negotiate on your behalf and prepare representations. We can also help you with brand protection and media strategies.

Our network
We have created strong relationships with other leading lawyers who work with education providers. If you need help on any other areas of law we can introduce you to the best legal team for that particular issue.

We frequently liaise with senior officials at the Home Office and this enables us to continue to influence key decision makers about issues that are important to UK education providers and businesses.