The UK government guidance explains that a "‘Worker’ licence will let you sponsor people in different types of skilled employment" and that this includes the **Skilled Worker** route, where "the role must meet the job suitability requirements." It clarifies that any employer that meets the criteria can apply: "You can apply for a licence covering one or both types of worker" and that a Worker licence is not limited by size or sector, meaning small businesses such as takeaways can in principle hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.

Reporting on a separate enforcement case, The Times writes: "More than 2,000 migrants are being deported after officials discovered they had acquired visas by pretending to be skilled workers." The piece describes a "migrant scam" involving bogus PR roles linked to kebab houses and other small firms exploiting the UK skilled worker route, illustrating concerns about abuse of sponsorship licences. It does not, however, give the same headline figure of 150+ shops but situates kebab shops within wider visa abuse investigations.

This legal guidance notes that "no business is immune from the need to apply for a sponsor licence if the business wants to recruit overseas workers" and that "once you have successfully applied for a Home Office sponsor licence your business can sponsor overseas workers on the skilled worker visa." It stresses that "there is **no minimum or maximum size for a business to apply for a sponsor licence and your business does not need to be registered with Companies House," explaining that a restaurant simply needs an established business presence, an authorising officer and appropriate HR systems, which can include small restaurants and takeaways such as kebab shops.

The article says that 159 kebab outlets have Home Office licences under the Skilled Worker system. It also states that, from 2021 to 2023, 56 kebab outlets used those licences to bring in foreign workers.

Latitude Law explains that a UK restaurant or hospitality business may apply for a sponsor licence and that "when granted, this licence allows your business to sponsor visa applications made by chefs and other skilled workers." It states that to qualify for a Chef visa, the worker must be sponsored by "a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office to sponsor overseas workers" and that the role must be under an eligible occupation code and meet the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which has been set at **£41,700 per year** for chef roles under recent rules.

The report states that 159 kebab shops across Britain were granted Home Office licences allowing them to sponsor overseas workers under the Skilled Worker visa scheme. It also says Home Office records show 56 kebab shops used their sponsorship licences to recruit overseas workers between 2021 and 2023.

Richmond Chambers explains that to use the Skilled Worker route, "your UK business will need to obtain a Skilled Worker sponsor licence before you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa." It clarifies that once the business has such a licence, it can assign Certificates of Sponsorship to workers it wants to employ, showing that any qualifying UK business entity, including small food outlets, can become a Skilled Worker sponsor if it meets Home Office requirements.

The article says the UK had over 100,000 businesses with a Home Office licence to employ migrant workers on a Skilled Worker visa. It also notes that Q2 2024 saw 26,000 Skilled Worker visas issued and that the Home Office had increased sponsor-licence enforcement actions.

A GB News Facebook post promoting its segment states: "EXPOSED: **150+ kebab shops granted skilled worker visas in Britain**" and refers to "immigrants [who] have been given skilled worker visas sponsored by 56 kebab houses, 83 businesses with 'Halal'" between 2021 and 2023. The framing links kebab houses and other halal businesses to the Skilled Worker visa route via sponsorship.

The video says a Freedom of Information request found several halal and kebab shops sponsoring dozens of Skilled Worker visas between 2021 and 2023. It also says one butcher in Preston sponsored 91 visas, 87 of which were used.

The podcast description, referring to GB News findings, states: "Immigrants have been given skilled worker visas sponsored by **56 kebab houses**, 83 businesses with 'Halal' in their name, and one butcher alone sponsored 918 visas, GB News can reveal." The episode discusses how small food businesses are using the UK's Skilled Worker visa sponsorship system.

The video says a small kebab shop in East London was licensed to sponsor skilled migrant workers and claims the scheme is used by over 128,000 UK businesses. It also states that the Home Office allows a wide range of roles on the Skilled Worker list, including butchers, poultry dressers, chefs, and catering managers.

The post repeats the claim that more than 150 kebab shops were given Home Office licences to hire migrants from overseas. It also says the Skilled Worker visa system does not restrict sponsor licences to large or high-status employers.

A Home Office sponsor licence is not the same as a visa grant. It allows an employer to sponsor eligible workers if the role and applicant meet visa rules; official sponsor registers and visa issuance statistics are separate datasets.

Commenting on the GB News story, the post claims: "More than **150 kebab takeout shops across Britain have been given government licences to hire workers directly from overseas through a new visa program.**" It adds that these licences "not only allow the Kebab shops to hire workers from abroad, but once those workers are in, they [can bring] family members into the UK" and cites GB News as the source.

An Instagram caption, referencing the same underlying figures, asserts: "The UK government has approved **more than 150 kebab takeout shops to directly hire workers from overseas through a new visa scheme.**" It continues: "Not only can these shops import foreign labor for what are clearly low-skilled jobs, once the workers arrive, they’re also allowed to bring family members with them." The post is framed as criticism of the Skilled Worker visa arrangements.

This GB News Facebook image post states: "Kebab shops, vape stores and even car washes are being allowed to sponsor overseas workers under Britain's visa system." The accompanying text highlights "More than 150 kebab shops" having been given Home Office licences and frames this as part of concern about the Skilled Worker visa system.

A Facebook group post discussing the story states: "More than **150 kebab shops across Britain** have been granted Home Office licences allowing them to sponsor overseas workers under the UK's skilled worker visa." The post is commenting on news reports and uses the figure of "more than 150" kebab shops with such licences.

In a discussion segment shared by GB News on Facebook under the caption "EXPOSED: 150+ kebab shops granted skilled worker visas in Britain", presenters refer back to their earlier investigation claiming that over 150 kebab shops have been granted Skilled Worker visa-related permissions and criticise the idea that such roles are genuinely "skilled" under the current UK immigration system.

The post says a Freedom of Information request found several examples of halal and kebab shops sponsoring dozens of Skilled Worker visas between 2021 and 2023. It repeats the detail that one butcher in Preston sponsored 91 visas, with 87 used.