A Sponsor Licence suspension is when the Home Office freezes your ability to sponsor workers from abroad if they think you might have been in breach of your obligations. You cannot assign any new CoS during this time and therefore it may affect applications that are already pending for sponsored employees. This acts as a warning stage, giving you an opportunity to respond by demonstrating compliance.

Suspension does not mean the end but poses a serious risk to your business. The Home Office will conduct its investigation into any breaches, and if you cannot provide satisfactory explanations or rectify the breaches, your license will be moving towards revocation. Act fast and get expert legal advice at this stage.

In practical terms, a suspension can throw your workforce planning out of the window, disrupt current sponsored employees, and tarnish your reputation. The suspension notice will outline the reasons and evidence against you, and your response will determine whether you get to keep playing with those precious sponsorship privileges or if they're yanked away for good.