Overview

• Mark Sullivan, owner of Big Fry Fish & Chips in Egham, Surrey, paid a discounted £28,000 fine after admitting to a clerical error that led to the hiring of a worker with a forged identity.
• The Home Office initially issued a £40,000 penalty following a March raid and has raised maximum fines from £15,000 to £45,000 per illegal worker since July 2024.
• The Federation of Small Businesses and other trade groups argue that flat-rate fines are crushing small employers and are calling for penalties scaled to company size and a formal appeals process.
• A government spokesperson reiterated that right-to-work checks are free, take minutes to complete and can use digital ID verification technology to ensure compliance.
• Many small business owners report confusion over complex identity requirements despite available guidance and digital tools.