Visa-sponsoring employers in Manchester
2,772 employers in Manchester hold a Skilled Worker licence (register, 5 October 2026). Here's what that means for your search.
Home Office register,
The short answer
2,785
Skilled Worker licences in Manchester
Home Office register, 5 October 2026
Manchester has the 3rd highest count of the 493 towns with a page on Visavi. 2,784 of those licences carry an A rating, and 1 carries a B rating. Within about 25 miles, another 4,576 Skilled Worker licences list one of 103 other towns.
Counted by the register's own town column, Manchester's Skilled Worker licences are 2.3% of the 123,132 Skilled Worker licences on the register.
Counting every licence route, 2,891 organisations in Manchester hold a sponsor licence of some kind.
Besides Skilled Worker, the licence routes held most often here are Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker (122), Tier 2 Ministers of Religion (67) and Charity Worker (46).
120 of the Skilled Worker sponsors in Manchester also hold a Global Business Mobility licence, the routes that bring an overseas employer's staff to work in the UK.
By registered name, 88 have "care" or "healthcare" in their name; 85 have "tech", "software", "digital" or "data" in their name; and 76 have "restaurant", "kitchen", "cafe" or "food" in their name.
The nearest towns with their own page are Salford (2 miles, 223 licences), Sale (5 miles, 53 licences), Oldham (6 miles, 321 licences) and Stockport (6 miles, 287 licences).
| Licence route | Count |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 2,785 |
| Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker | 122 |
| Tier 2 Ministers of Religion | 67 |
| Charity Worker | 46 |
| Religious Worker | 39 |
| Rating | Licences |
|---|---|
| A rating | 2,784 |
| B rating | 1 |
A rating includes the A (Premium) and A (SME+) labels. A B rating generally means the employer cannot sponsor new workers until it is back to an A rating.
Examples from the register
- ALS Customs Services Limited
- Ardmac Performance Contracting Limited
- BCEGI Construction (UK) Ltd
- F-M Motorparts Limited
- Federal-Mogul Ltd
- Hilti (Gt. Britain) Limited
- Rhenus Home Delivery Limited
- Rhenus Logistics Limited
These employers also hold a Global Business Mobility licence. They are examples from the register, not a sign that any of them is hiring.
Questions people ask
How many companies in Manchester sponsor visas?
On 5 October 2026, the Home Office register listed 2,785 Skilled Worker licences in Manchester, one for each organisation and town, and 2,891 organisations there held a sponsor licence of some kind. Within about 25 miles, another 4,576 Skilled Worker licences list one of 103 other towns.
Are the visa sponsors in Manchester A-rated?
2,784 of the 2,785 Skilled Worker licences in Manchester carry an A rating, and 1 carries a B rating (register, 5 October 2026). A B rating generally means the employer cannot sponsor new workers until it is back to an A rating.
How can I check if a company in Manchester can sponsor a visa?
Search its name in the Visavi sponsor check, which reads the same Home Office register. A licence means they can sponsor. It is not a promise that they will. Employers on the register here include ALS Customs Services Limited, Ardmac Performance Contracting Limited and BCEGI Construction (UK) Ltd.
What this means for your search in Manchester
- Check the licence first. An employer needs a licence to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa. Use the sponsor check. The register changes often and lists legal names, which can differ from a brand name. Check the latest register on gov.uk before you rule an employer out.
- Read the advert's sponsorship line. "Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK" is a no, even from a licensed employer.
- Check the salary. Usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate. For new entrants, the higher of £33,400 and 70% of the going rate. See salary thresholds and going rates.
- After an offer, ask about the Certificate of Sponsorship. See what to ask.
Full routine: How to find a job that sponsors your visa in the UK. Rules change: always check gov.uk.