Sectors Based Scheme workers

This section explains what the Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) is and what workers coming to the United Kingdom under the SBS can expect.

The SBS allows United Kingdom based employers to recruit low-skilled workers from Bulgaria, Romania and outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to vacancies that cannot be filled by resident workers.

Eligibility

The SBS only accepts new applications from Bulgarian or Romanian nationals. If you are from outside the EEA you will no longer be able to apply to come to the United Kingdom to work under the SBS.

If you are from outside the EEA and are currently working in the United Kingdom under the SBS you can be employed under the SBS for a maximum of 12 months. If your original SBS permit was issued for less than 12 months your employer can apply for an extension on your behalf.

Applications for SBS permits must be made by a United Kingdom based employer on your behalf. The permit will be issued for you to take up a specific job with that employer. If you decide you do not want to take the job the permit has been issued for you will not be able to transfer the permit to another job or employer. If you want to change job or employer once you have started work, the new employer will need to apply for a new SBS permit.

Accession worker card

Bulgarian and Romanian nationals wanting to work in the United Kingdom need to be issued with an accession worker card before starting work. Once your employer has been issued with a SBS permit for you, you will need to apply for an accession worker card. This application should be made on application form BR3. Details of how to make the application can be found in the section of this site for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals. You must not start work until you have received your accession worker card.

The work

As a SBS worker you will be employed within the food manufacturing industry. New workers employed on the SBS will work within one or more of the following areas:

• fish processing;
• meat processing;
• mushroom processing.

If you are already working in the United Kingdom under the SBS you can also work within the hospitality industry. This industry is not open to new applicants.

As a SBS worker you will be expected to be employed to do one or more specific roles. The specific roles are:

Fish processing

• fish filleters - prepare, clean, cut fish for processing;
• fish packers - pack, wrap, label, seal fish for distribution and sale;
• fish process operatives - operate, mind and clean machines that prepare fish.

The processing of shellfish is covered in the above job descriptions.

Meat processing

• animal gut remover;
• meat bone breaker;
• meat bone extractor;
• meat cold store operator;
• meat cutter;
• meat packer;
• meat process operatives;
• meat slaughterer;
• lairageman - pre-slaughter animal welfare attendant;
• trimmer - trim fat from and shape meat after it has been boned and cut.

Mushroom processing

Mushroom processor - tend growing crops, pick, grade and pack mushrooms for distribution and sale.

Hospitality sector (extensions and renewals only)

• bar staff;
• chefs at NVQ level two and below;
• cleaner of premises - in staff canteen or restaurants only;
• concierge staff;
• food service operatives - serving food to paying customers;
• housekeeper;
• kitchen assistant - help prepare food, clean and provide assistance to staff;
• room attendants;
• reception staff; and
• waiting staff.

With the exception of the cleaner posts which will only be approved for work in staff canteens and restaurants, the post holder must work in one of the following:

• contract or event catering business;
• cafeteria;
• caravan park;
• hotel;
• motorway service station;
• club;
• public house;
• restaurant;
• take-away shop.

Length of permit

SBS permits will be issued for a maximum of 12 months. If your initial permit is issued for less than 12 months your employer can apply to extend this permit.

If you are from outside the EEA and your employer successfully extends your SBS permit you will need to make an application to extend your permission to stay in the United Kingdom. We call this extending your leave to remain. Your application to extend your leave to remain should be made on application form FLR(IED). You can download the application form and guidance from the right side of this page. You should make sure your read the guidance notes before you make your application.

End of permit

If you are from outside the EEA you will not be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom once your permit has expired. You are expected to return to your home country. The SBS is a short-term immigration category and does not provide you with a route to stay in the United Kingdom permanently.

If you are a Bulgarian or Romanian national you do not need to leave the United Kingdom when your permit expires. As an EEA national, you have the right to remain in the United Kingdom providing you can support yourself and any dependants. Once you have worked in the United Kingdom for a continuous 12 month period you can apply for a registration certificate. This certificate gives you unrestricted access to the United Kingdom labour market and you will no longer need to apply for an accession worker card before you start working.

Additional employment

As an SBS permit holder you are allowed to take additional employment without our permission providing:

• it is outside your normal working hours; and
• it is for no more than 20 hours per week; and
• it is within the same industrial sector as the one your SBS permit was issued for; and
• it is for a job within that sector that is listed in the work section above; and
• you are not employed by a recruitment agency, employment agency or similar business to a personnel client.

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.A person who is a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) or is legally settled in the United Kingdom with permission to work here. In some cases, an employer who wishes to employ a person who is not a permanent resident must show that no resident worker could be found to take the job.