A-rated, B-rated and provisional sponsors: the register's Type & Rating column (23 October 2026)
Every row on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors has a Type & Rating value: the licence type (Worker or Temporary Worker) and its rating. These are the counts in the file published 23 October 2026.
The numbers
- 143,205 rows covering 127,447 organisation names.
- 127,245 organisations hold only A-rated Worker or Temporary Worker licences.
- 102 have a B rating on at least one licence; 7 of these also have at least one A-rated row.
- 97 have a UK Expansion Worker provisional licence.
- 2 show an A (Premium) rating and 1 an A (SME+) rating.
Rows by Type & Rating: 20 October 2026 and 23 October 2026
| Type & Rating | 20 October 2026 | 23 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Worker (A rating) | 137,361 | 137,388 |
| Temporary Worker (A rating) | 5,611 | 5,611 |
| Worker (B rating) | 100 | 101 |
| Worker (UK Expansion Worker: Provisional ) | 95 | 97 |
| Worker (A (Premium)) | 4 | 4 |
| Temporary Worker (B rating) | 1 | 1 |
| Worker (A (SME+)) | 1 | 1 |
| Temporary Worker (A (SME+)) | 1 | 1 |
| Temporary Worker (A (Premium)) | 1 | 1 |
Premium and SME+ ratings
The register lists these organisations with an A (Premium) or A (SME+) rating:
- English National Ballet
- Google (UK) Limited
- HSBC Holdings plc
B-rated rows by route
| Route | Rows |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 100 |
| Creative Worker | 1 |
| Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker | 1 |
Registered towns of organisations with a B rating
| Town | Organisations |
|---|---|
| London | 13 |
| Nottingham | 3 |
| Leicester | 3 |
| Slough | 3 |
| Salford | 2 |
| Manchester | 2 |
| Newcastle Upon Tyne | 2 |
| Birmingham | 2 |
| Bournemouth | 2 |
| Glasgow | 2 |
Live roles on SponsorHire
Of the 8,977 roles live on SponsorHire on 26 October 2026, 21 were at 2 organisations with a B rating; none were at an organisation with a provisional licence. Every other role was at an organisation whose register rows show only A ratings (including A (Premium) and A (SME+)).
How to read this
- The register shows the rating; it does not say why a rating was given or changed. GOV.UK publishes the sponsor guidance that defines the ratings: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sponsorship-information-for-employers-and-educators
- One organisation can have several rows, one per route, and a different rating on its Worker and Temporary Worker licences.
- Ratings can change from one daily file to the next. The latest daily register file shows each employer's current rating.
GOV.UK publishes the visa rules: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Related: How to check the sponsor register · Is a big brand a licensed sponsor? · All guides
A sponsor licence does not mean a role is sponsored. Not immigration advice.
Source: Home Office, Register of Licensed Sponsors: workers, file dated 23 October 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers. SponsorHire live listings snapshot, 26 October 2026.
SponsorHire publishes facts only and gives no immigration advice. For advice, see the Immigration Advice Authority register.