Recruitment Agency Register

Official online lookupHas not ratified ILO C181

Recruitment agency licensing in United Kingdom

Licensing authority: Fair Work Agency (FWA), an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade. GOV.UK says the FWA began operating on 7 April 2026 and replaced both the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). It enforces the Conduct Regulations 2003 and issues gangmaster licences.1,2,3,4

How to check an agency in United Kingdom

Gangmaster licences can be checked on the Fair Work Agency public register by reference number, business name or location. Labour users can also sign up for Active Check, which emails changes. If a provider is not listed, contact licensing@fairworkagency.gov.uk or 0345 161 6000. There is no licence register for ordinary employment agencies.6,9

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Who needs a licence

GOV.UK says some employment agencies need a licence if they supply specific types of workers. Agencies supplying workers to agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering, or food processing and packaging are gangmasters and must be licensed by the Fair Work Agency. Care agencies may need to register with the care regulator in each nation. Other agencies need no general licence.9,5

Fees charged to workers

GOV.UK says an employment agency cannot charge a fee to a work seeker for work finding services. The rules are different for entertainment and modelling agencies. Section 6 of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 is headed Restriction on charging persons seeking employment.8,10

Licence conditions

Gangmaster licences run for one year and can be renewed up to six weeks before expiry. Non refundable application and inspection fees range from 3,490 pounds (turnover under 1 million pounds) to 8,500 pounds (10 million pounds or more). Renewal fees range from 620 pounds to 4,000 pounds by turnover band.7

Reporting an unlicensed agency

The Fair Work Agency runs services to complain about pay and work rights and to report serious abuse or exploitation at work. Its general enquiries line is 0345 161 6000 and email contact@fairworkagency.gov.uk.1

ILO Private Employment Agencies Convention (C181)

Not ratified14

Main law

Developments

  1. The Fair Work Agency began operating, replacing the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, according to GOV.UK. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation said the Office of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement also joined, and that HMRC continues to enforce the National Minimum Wage for the first year under a service level agreement.2,4,13

Checked 28 October 2026. This page describes the licensing system. It does not list or rate individual agencies.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK, Fair Work Agency (14 October 2026)
  2. GOV.UK, Conduct Regulations 2003: guidance for employment agencies and employment businesses (22 June 2026)
  3. GOV.UK, Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate
  4. GOV.UK, Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
  5. Fair Work Agency, How to check if a labour provider has a gangmaster's licence (7 April 2026)
  6. Fair Work Agency, How to check if a labour provider has a gangmaster's licence (guidance text) (7 April 2026)
  7. Fair Work Agency, How to apply for or renew a gangmaster's licence
  8. GOV.UK, Employment agencies and businesses (16 October 2026)
  9. GOV.UK, Employment agencies and businesses: licences for employment agencies
  10. legislation.gov.uk, Employment Agencies Act 1973
  11. legislation.gov.uk, The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003
  12. legislation.gov.uk, Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004
  13. Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Fair Work Agency launches (30 March 2026)
  14. Government of the Netherlands, Treaty Database, Convention concerning Private Employment Agencies, Geneva, 19-06-1997 (29 January 2026)