Provider Funding Support

North East London (NEL) local authorities are offering limited funding support to help eligible care providers recruit displaced international care workers whose previous employer's sponsorship licence has been revoked.

The scheme aims to reduce immigration-related costs, promote ethical recruitment, and stabilise the adult social care workforce. Delivery partners include Care Providers Voice (CPV) and specialist immigration and compliance advisors Aston Brooke.

To initiate your application process, please complete the eligibility form using the button below.

Please note this is a time-limited offer, and funding is subject to availability. We encourage eligible care providers to take advantage of this support as soon as possible.

Funding contributes towards immigration-related costs only.

If you already hold a sponsor licence: Covers Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee, Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), and sponsorship for up to 3 years.

Small providers: up to £1,965 per worker Large providers: up to £4,485 per worker If you do not yet hold a sponsor licence: Legal fees for sponsor licence application: £1,500 + VAT Home Office fee — small/charitable providers: £574 Home Office fee — medium/large providers: £1,579 Funding is limited to approved immigration-related costs and is subject to eligibility and available funding. Applying for a sponsor licence remains the responsibility of the provider.

The process is split into 4 stages. End-to-end it should take no longer than 4–5 weeks.

1 Complete the eligibility form Submit a short online form confirming CQC registration, vacancy details, pay rates and understanding of ethical recruitment guidance.

2 Initial eligibility checks Submissions are reviewed against the scheme's minimum requirements. Only eligible providers progress to the next stage.

3 Quality audit & compliance support Eligible providers are referred to immigration and compliance advisors Ashton Brookes for a quality audit to ensure readiness to sponsor a displaced worker.

4 Approval & funding confirmation Once compliance requirements are met, the local authority issues a purchase order. Providers can then invoice for the agreed immigration-related costs.