GLAA Licensing Explained: What UK Employers Need to Know in 2026
In today’s labour market, compliance is no longer a “nice to have” – it is a fundamental part of running a responsible, sustainable business. For employers operating in regulated sectors such as construction, manufacturing, food production, agriculture and logistics, one of the most important compliance requirements is ensuring that labour providers hold a valid GLAA licence.
At Approach Personnel, compliance sits at the heart of how we operate. Our clients trust us to not only supply skilled, reliable workers, but to do so in a way that protects their business, their workforce and their reputation. Understanding the importance of GLAA licensing is a key part of that.
What is the GLAA and why does it exist?
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) is the UK body responsible for protecting vulnerable workers from exploitation and labour abuse. It regulates labour providers in certain sectors and has powers to investigate offences such as forced labour, human trafficking, withholding wages and unsafe working conditions.
A GLAA licence is not a simple tick-box exercise. To be granted a licence, a labour provider must demonstrate that they operate legally, pay workers correctly, follow employment law, carry out proper right to work checks and maintain safe working practices. The licensing process is deliberately robust to ensure that only compliant, ethical operators are allowed to supply labour into regulated sectors.
Why GLAA licensing matters to employers
For end clients, using a GLAA-licensed labour provider is about far more than compliance. It is about risk management, brand protection and ethical responsibility.
From a legal standpoint, businesses that use unlicensed labour providers in regulated sectors can face serious consequences. This includes unlimited fines, criminal liability and, in severe cases, custodial sentences for directors. Even where an employer is not directly involved in wrongdoing, failure to carry out due diligence on supply chains can result in significant penalties.
Reputational risk is equally important. In an era of heightened scrutiny around modern slavery, worker welfare and ESG commitments, being linked to labour exploitation can cause long-term damage to a business’s brand. Clients, investors and employees increasingly expect organisations to take a strong stance on ethical labour practices. Working with licensed, compliant labour providers demonstrates that commitment in a very tangible way.
Protecting workers and raising standards
GLAA licensing is ultimately about protecting people. Temporary and agency workers can be particularly vulnerable to exploitation if proper safeguards are not in place. By using licensed providers, employers help ensure that workers are paid correctly, treated fairly and placed into safe working environments.
This also contributes to raising standards across the wider industry. Responsible labour providers invest in compliance processes, worker welfare, training and robust onboarding. This leads to a more stable, motivated workforce and better outcomes for clients in terms of productivity, retention and site culture.
GLAA licensing and modern slavery compliance
The UK Modern Slavery Act places a duty on many organisations to assess and address risks of exploitation within their supply chains. Labour supply is one of the highest-risk areas for potential abuse. Working with GLAA-licensed partners forms a critical part of any credible modern slavery and ethical sourcing strategy.
For many organisations, particularly in construction and manufacturing, audits and client frameworks increasingly require evidence that labour providers are GLAA licensed. This is no longer limited to food and agriculture. Expectations around transparency and ethical labour standards are rising across the built environment and industrial sectors.
Why clients choose Approach Personnel
At Approach Personnel, compliance is not treated as a back-office function. It is central to how we operate and how we protect our clients. Our GLAA licence, alongside robust right to work checks, compliance audits and worker onboarding processes, gives our clients confidence that they are working with a responsible recruitment partner.
For our clients, this means peace of mind. You can focus on delivering projects, meeting production targets and running your business, knowing that your labour supply chain is compliant, ethical and legally sound.
Looking ahead, regulation and scrutiny around labour supply is only going to increase. Businesses that take compliance seriously now will be better positioned to navigate future legislative changes, client audits and ESG expectations. GLAA licensing is not just about meeting today’s rules. It is about future-proofing your workforce strategy.
If you would like to understand more about GLAA compliance, labour supply best practice or how Approach Personnel can support your workforce needs, our team is always happy to talk.