The Level 1 User is the person within a sponsoring organisation who carries out the day-to-day tasks on the Sponsorship Management System. This includes assigning Certificates of Sponsorship, reporting changes in sponsored workers' circumstances, and managing the licence on behalf of the Authorising Officer. The Level 1 User role carries significant responsibility, and errors made by a Level 1 User can have direct consequences for the sponsor's compliance record and ultimately for the licence itself.
Training covers how to navigate the SMS, how to assign and manage Certificates of Sponsorship, what events must be reported and within what timeframe, how to handle common scenarios such as changes in salary, working location, or job role, and how to manage the records the Home Office expects sponsors to hold. Training is practical rather than theoretical and is tailored to the type of workers the organisation sponsors and the sectors it operates in. We also address the most common mistakes Level 1 Users make and how to avoid them.
NARA Solicitors delivers SMS Level 1 User training for new and existing users. Training can be provided to individuals or to HR teams and is updated to reflect current Home Office guidance. If your organisation has recently obtained a sponsor licence, has appointed a new Level 1 User, or has identified gaps in how the SMS is currently being managed, training is one of the most practical and cost-effective investments you can make in your compliance framework.