Business Immigration law
Immigration compliance and rights to work
Our team of specialists are ready to help your business today
Expert Immigration Law support for SMEs
We live in a changing employment landscape following Brexit, COVID and many other socio-economic factors impacting business.
Talented foreign workers can bring a wealth of skills and experience to your business. However, if you’re not approved to employ foreign workers or fail to follow the rules around immigration compliance and rights to work, you could put your business at risk of legal action.
Our expert team provides immigration law support for SMEs across the UK. We can help with areas including sponsorship of workers from overseas, contracts of employment and prevention of illegal working, Home Office compliance, and much more in between.
I have used Howarth’s for a number of years and the team are always friendly, supportive and extremely knowledgeable. Jonothan in particular has been a great support and is always on hand to answer queries, however complex they may be.I would highly recommend using Howarths for your Employment Law needs!
Our organisation has worked closely with Howarth's for some time, however its only in the last few months I have liaised directly with Sarah and Charlotte. Both have been incredibly helpful, offering advice sometimes further than asked, for a more rounded approach. Their responses are swift which is often needed given the work we're involved with, and if they aren't available, I have found their colleagues Jonothan, Katie, and Anna to be equally as helpful and responsive even when they're having to get up to speed quickly! All are so friendly too which goes such a long way, I'd certainly recommend Howarth's.
The team at Howarths are amazing. I have worked closely with Charlotte and Sarah for several years and highly recommend Howarths to anyone seeking support on all HR matters (including immigration). They are professional, knowledgeable, responsive and most of all friendly in their approach. I have complete confidence in the advice provided. A family firm they truly are.
We appointed Jonothan at Howarths to complete our employment contracts, his advice, guidance, professionalism & knowledge was astounding.Jonothan was an absolute pleasure to work with & I would have no hesitation in recommending Jonothan & the team at Howarths to our contacts & clients.
Fantastic company to work with and a massive thank you to Claire for all her support 😀
We have partnered with Howarths for over five years to support our HR processes, and their expertise has been invaluable. The team is approachable, knowledgeable, and always available to provide expert advice and guidance. We have benefited greatly from their bespoke training courses and HR company audit, both of which have significantly improved our business practices.
A brilliant company to have on your side, superb customer service with excellent help and advise throughout any issue(s), with a special mention to Jonothan a top, top guy.
I have used Howarth's HR services on several occasions over the past 12 months. I have always found them to be very knowledgeable, and professional as well as being really nice people to work with.Gill
Howarths is a great support to us. Jonothan is knowledgeable, professional, and always reliable. The advice is always clear, straightforward, and has really helped our business. Highly recommend their services.
They say that not all heroes wear capes. However, I was so impressed by what can only be described as "heroic lawyering" by Howarths' fabulous Jonothan Scollen, that I actually bought him a superhero cape as a thank you. For clarity: I did pay the (really very reasonable!) invoice as well!I was acutely aware that I needed Jonothan's help urgently. The result was a speedy resolution that left me feeling incredibly impressed by the level of responsiveness and efficiency, whilst remaining confident that everything had been completed thoroughly, diligently and to an exceptional standard. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Jonothan at Howarths and look forward to working with him again in the future.
It sounds very cheesy, but my experience with Tracey from Howarths has genuinely been life-changing. As a professional coach, Tracey took the time to understand me as a person to help me progress not only professionally, but in my personal life too. She's enabled me to completely shift my mindset and build my confidence. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Thank you Tracey!
Jonathan Scollen and the whole team at Howarths are true professionals with amazing ethics. They don't waiting for things to happen before acting! With a proactive approach, they keep you updated through their expert up to date knowledge allowing you to make those proactive decisions with everyone's best interest is at heart. Great work!
We have been working with Howarths for over a year first in H&S and recently in HR, the team are a pleasure to work with, professional, knowledgeable and the support from Rachel, Cath & Charlotte is fantastic! A caring, family run business.
HowarthsHR has been an amazing partner for Carrs Pasties for over two years. Their expertise has greatly improved our company culture. Highly recommended!
Absolutely brilliant support! The guidance and advice we've received have been a game-changer for our team. The tips and tricks we've put into practice have worked wonders. It's amazing how what felt like impossible challenges turned into positive outcomes—for both the business and our employees.Whenever they’re onsite, there's a noticeable boost in confidence and clarity. In the day to day of the business, there is an enhanced feeling of being prepared to handle whatever comes up, and if we need extra support there is always someone available to help guide us to make the right decisions.The training sessions have been extremely helpful and practical.whether that onsite, or held at Howarth's! The remote training was just as good—practical, relatable, and something we could immediately apply to our own experiences. Highly recommend!
I have worked with Tracey at Howarths for some time on a 121 coaching and management training. Both Tracey and the team provide unparalleled advice, help and support. I would highly recommend them.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Howarth's to anyone facing an employment issue. They were professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive throughout.Here's what stood out:Expertise: Their knowledge of employment law was exceptional. They clearly explained my options and the potential outcomes, putting everything in terms I could understand.Communication: They kept me informed every step of the way. I never felt like I was in the dark about what was happening.Support: This was a stressful time for me, and they were incredibly patient and understanding. They were always available to answer my questions and address my concerns.In the end, Jonothan at Howarth's helped me enormously, I can not thank them enough for their hard work and dedication.If you're looking for top-notch employment solicitors, look no further than Howarth's!
I've worked with Jon Scollen for over 12months, he's incredibly knowledgeable and a great person to have in my network, highly recommend!!
Excellent service, and value, Jonathon is a pleasure to deal with and ensure compliance across everything people related within the business.
After one year of working alongside the team at Howarths, I have found the support and service to be extremely fantastic. Everyone is down to earth, family run business, what you see is what you get. Dediciated, professional and helpful. I am excited to be working alongside Howarths for another year.
Great week of informative training. Very well delivered and very well put together! Thanks all.
I recently took part in a Management Development training programme with a couple of other colleagues. The content that Katie & Cath delivered was very insightful and gave us all a really clear direction going forwards. There is always a positive welcome and professional feel when you walk through the door at Howarths and the level of support that the team give us as a business is brilliant. Would highly recommend them for all HR needs
I/we have been using and utilising Howarths for over two years. They are our right arm when it comes to HR and have helped develop our staff handbook and policies along with guidance and advice on a range of specialist subject matter. Each member of the team has been exceptional and hugely knowledgeable each time we've asked for assistance. I/we could not operate without them and I'd recommend them and their services to anyone looking for expert help and support. Kevin
Howarths is an exceptional business that genuinely practice what they preach. Culture, enthusiasm and an “extra mile” service.Highly recommended for any serious business owners that want to get their people part of their business right.
I have dealt with Howarths for many years now and i have to say it has been a fantastic experience. The friendly, knowledgeable and understanding service i get is second to non. I attended a CPG event on Wednesday and again this just reaffirmed what i felt already. A well organised and excellent leaders event with two inspiring speakers. Added to their caring dedicated culture to their staff and the Howarth foundation i can't recommended them enough.
The team at Chandley Ovens just completed a major reorganisation involving a significant reduction in force, the creation of an employee owned company and the TUPE transfer of employees from one entity to another. Charlotte and the team at Howarths provided excellent advice in a timely fashion that was always in context and pragmatic.
We have had a partnership with Howarth’s for many years, they have supported us on HR, H&S, Employment law and training and their services have been first class. They have supported us in driving our business forward in our vision to be world class.Everyone within Howarth’s are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and experienced and is a credit to a family run business which clearly has the development and support of people and businesses as its core values.The support you get from Howarth’s is tailored to your requirements with an added personal touch.I highly recommend Howarth’s and you will not be disappointed.
Excellent service! I have dealt with Howarths over a tribunal matter. Their service has been first class. From day one we have felt supported and out minds put at ease. Their expertise helped to guide us along the way and took much of the stress out of the situation with their re-assuring manner. There has always been someone to deal with a matter, advice is quick, prompt and professional. I would have absolutely no hesitation to work with them again, and will continue with their HR services.
When I started working at Howarths I had a HR qualification but only the basic employment law knowledge. I learnt so much about employment law over the two years I was there due to the support from such a fantastic team - Gavin, Charlotte and Sarah. Because of their support and patience I have just won my first tribunal claim which would not have been possible without these guys. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Howarths are a fantastic company to work for based on true family values and I am proud to say I was part of that.Much love everyone
Howarth's is a wonderful company to work for, they care and look after their staff and customers like no other organisation I've come across. The expertise in their field is second to none, any business having issues with Health & Safety/HR and Employment Law please give them a call you won't be disappointed with the service. They are small enough to care and big enough to deal with the most complex issues.
First class training as always! Gavin is extremely professional and a pleasure to deal with.The feedback from the trainees is always very positive and they gain a lot from it.My company has had a relationship with Howarths for upwards of 14 years and they have always provided the very best support in all aspects of HR & Employment Law.
We have used Howarth's for a number of years and have always found them extremely helpful and professional!
We have used Howarths for several years now and they have always proven to be professional, knowledgeable and most of all genuine. They care about our business and our staff and have made the effort to get to know us really well over the years.All the team are approachable and willing to help. They have been a huge asset to us in the countless situations we’ve faced as an employer over the years and I’m not sure what we would have done without them.Also the training days are great fun and massively beneficial to all the staff who attend.A fantastic company to work with.
Howarths HR are great at what they do, but the best thing about them is that they are brilliant people who are great to engage with. Their advice is first class, and their charitable foundation does some fantastic work in the community too. I'd definitely recommend them.
I was an employee of Howarths for almost two years and thoroughly enjoyed and valued my time at the company. Everyone at the company is so warm and friendly, and it really is like being a part of a second family. Howarths took initiative to support my development in the most valuable way possible, and it is a real shame that my family life has moved me down South. I will miss it and all of my colleagues truly, however I can honestly say that there was no better company to start my career journey with.
Howarths is always there when you need them, their staff are 100% up to date on all employment, HR and H&S issues and always give you the best advice based solely on your needs and requirements. I would recommend Howarths to anyone and everyone, be you an individual or a large company. You will not get better service, I guarantee it and above and beyond all that professional stuff, they are all genuinely nice people who care. That word ”care” is massive, and should never be underestimated.
We have worked with Howarths for many years now, and have always found the service extremely good. Charlotte is always exceptionally professional, friendly and very knowledgeable – a pleasure to work with even though often dealing with some challenging situations. Whenever we have needed support from anyone in the team, they have always been quick to respond and given useful advice on such a broad range of HR subject areas. We know that we can trust the advice given and would recommend them highly.
Helping you recruit workers from overseas
Does your business employ foreign workers on a seasonal basis? Perhaps you’re planning to increase the number of overseas workers you employ in line with your growth and talent acquisition strategy? We live in a multicultural world and those that embrace this will have the competitive advantage.
Our expert business immigration law team can conduct a full immigration compliance audit to ensure you establish a robust legal approach to employing foreign workers and you are fulfilling your legal obligations as an employer or sponsor.
We can support you with:
- Right to work document checking systems and processes
- Ensuring employment contracts are adequate
- Making sure contractual clauses and policies are immigration compliant
- GDPR risks & obligations, including right to work processes and systems in place
- Compliance review: in accordance with UK visas and immigration and Home Office requirements
- Processes to avoid discrimination: while complying with Prevention of Illegal Working requirements
- Reviewing systems addressing sponsorship requirements: including minimum skill levels, minimum salary levels, advertising and recruitment obligations, a sponsor’s duty to keep records of recruitment and employment, and a sponsor’s duty to report to the Home Office on events relating to a migrant’s employment.
Business Immigration courses for your company
Our Business Immigration team delivers business immigration law courses and workshops for companies employing, or considering employing, workers from outside the UK.
Just some of the content covered in our half-day course includes:
Outline of current immigration status (legally/politically) at the time of the course
- EEA nationals: what options are open to EEA nationals living in the UK?
- Visitors: what business activity is permitted in the UK?
- GDPR implications of right to work checks
- Non-sponsored visas: who can work without an employer sponsor?
- Points-based system: an outline of each Tier of current and new systems
- Right to work checks: criminal and civil liability
- Discrimination in recruitment: when candidate screening becomes a risk
- Terminations: balancing immigration risk with fair decision-making
- Civil and criminal penalties: what could your organisation be liable for?
- Enforcement notices: when issued and how to respond
- Data protection: key points on disclosing information to UK Visas and Immigration.
Charlotte Geesin, Legal Director and Business Immigration expert, Howarths
“Following the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31st, the UK will be subject to a new points-based immigration system that will see the most significant changes to the UK’s immigration system in almost five decades.
“Workers from overseas contribute a wealth of skills and experience to the UK economy, but if a business is not approved to employ foreign workers or fails to follow the new rules around immigration compliance and rights to work, they could put themselves at risk of legal action.
“This can be a particularly tricky area to navigate for SMEs and start-ups who will need to consider requirements such as having a sponsor license in place if they wish to employ non-UK workers.”
Stay in the loop
Enter your details here to find out more about how we can help your business or call our team on 01274 864 999
Howarths
Newbury Court
St Johns Place
Brooke Street
Cleckheaton
BD19 3RR