With civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker, and more frequent enforcement checks taking place, it is increasingly important that employers ensure that all those they employ have the right to work in the UK.   

To help members, we have linked up with Association of Labour Providers (ALP) to arrange discounted access to a practical CPD-certified eLearning course: Establishing the Statutory Excuse.   

The hour-long course shows how to carry out compliant right to work checks; how to establish a defence if challenges; as well as how to avoid common mistakes that lead to fines.

How to access the course

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Membership for retailers is priced from £85 plus VAT for the year.

You can join here.

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Course Goal 

To help employers understand their legal obligations to prevent illegal working and to establish a statutory excuse through compliant right to work (RTW) checks using manual, online, or DVS methods. 

Learning Objectives 

  • By the end of this course, learners should be able to: 
  • Recognise illegal working and its impact on workers, businesses, and the economy 
  • Understand employer responsibilities and potential penalties 
  • Establish a statutory excuse through correct RTW checks (manual, online, DVS) 
  • Identify when RTW checks are required and avoid discriminatory practices 
  • Access official guidance and sources for ongoing compliance support  

Course Structure Session 

Topics Covered 

Interactive Elements 

1. Introduction 

What is illegal working, why it matters, course goals and structure 

Multiple response quiz: Why is illegal working a problem? 

2. Employer Responsibilities 

Who must be checked, when and why; statutory excuse; reasonable belief and discrimination risks 

True/false and multiple choice knowledge check 

3. Establishing the Statutory Excuse 

Manual Checks – Obtain, Check, Copy; Lists A & B, when excuse applies 
Online Checks – Eligibility, process, documents required 
DVS Checks – Acceptable documents, fallback to manual checks 

Interactive scenarios, FAQs, and recap quizzes for each check type 

4. Further Support 

Sources of guidance and tools (Home Office links, ALP resources) 

N/A 

5. Wrap-Up 

Summary, contact info, and next steps 

Final knowledge check and learner reflection