Hiring and Sponsoring Inspectors of standards and regulations (SOC Code 3581)

Inspectors of Standards and Regulations, classified under SOC Code 3581, are essential professionals who ensure the safety and compliance of various facilities and industries. Their responsibilities encompass:

• Examination of Building Plans: Assess building plans to verify compliance with local and statutory requirements.
• Inspections of Structures: Inspect building structures, facilities, and sites to ensure suitability for habitation and compliance with regulations.
• Equipment Inspections: Check measuring and similar equipment in factories and various premises, such as street traders and garages, to ensure accurate scales and weights.
• Worksite Assessments: Inspect factories and other work sites for cleanliness, temperature, lighting, ventilation, and check for fire hazards.
• Construction Oversight: Visit construction sites and inspect completed installations of electricity, gas, or water supply.
• Advisory Role: Identify irregularities or regulatory infringements and provide guidance on corrective measures.
• Accident Investigations: Investigate industrial accidents or public complaints related to safety and compliance issues.
• Vehicle Verifications: Verify commercial vehicle weights, check driver’s licenses, and ensure compliance with hours worked regulations.
• Environmental Checks: Sample and test river water, monitor premises discharging effluent, and provide advice to prevent pollution.
• Wildlife Protection: Check fishing licenses to prevent illegal fishing practices.
• Animal Welfare Inspections: Visit premises where animals are kept, provide advice on care, and investigate related complaints.
• Diverse Inspections: Conduct inspections related to chemicals, drugs, flight operations, and more.
• Reporting: Prepare detailed reports and recommendations based on inspections, recommending legal action when necessary.

With the growing emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance, the demand for qualified inspectors in the UK continues to rise, necessitating an efficient process for hiring and sponsoring these professionals under the UK’s immigration system. This guide will support HR professionals in navigating this recruitment process effectively.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Inspectors of standards and regulations?

SOC Code 3581 refers to inspectors of standards and regulations who are responsible for ensuring compliance with building codes, safety regulations, and other statutory requirements. Their responsibilities can include:

• Examining building plans: Ensuring compliance with local and statutory requirements.
• Inspecting structures and sites: Assessing buildings and facilities for suitability for habitation and regulations compliance.
• Verifying measuring equipment: Inspecting equipment in factories and visiting establishments to check scales, weights, and measuring devices.
• Ensuring workplace safety: Inspecting factories and work sites for cleanliness, temperature, lighting, ventilation, and fire hazards, along with monitoring the handling of dangerous materials.
• Monitoring construction sites: Visiting sites during construction and inspecting completed installations for electricity, gas, or water supply.
• Advising on regulations: Identifying irregularities and advising on corrective measures to ensure compliance.
• Investigating complaints: Looking into industrial accidents or public complaints regarding safety or regulatory issues.
• Conducting vehicle checks: Verifying weights of commercial vehicles, along with checking drivers' licenses and working hours.
• Environmental sampling: Sampling and testing river water, advising on pollution prevention from premises discharging effluent.
• Regulating fishing activities: Checking fishing licenses and preventing illegal fishing activities.
• Animal care inspections: Visiting premises housing animals, advising on their care, and investigating related complaints.
• Other inspections: Conducting inspections involving chemicals, drugs, flight operations, and more.
• Reporting: Preparing detailed reports and recommendations on inspections and recommending legal action when necessary.

Inspectors of standards and regulations play a critical role in ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and maintaining industry standards across various sectors.

Eligibility to Hire Inspectors of standards and regulations (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Inspectors of standards and regulations must possess a strong understanding of safety and compliance standards, demonstrating certain qualifications and experience criteria. These may include:

• Educational Background: A degree in engineering, environmental science, public health, or a related field is often preferred, though relevant experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Experience in Inspections: Demonstrated experience in conducting inspections of buildings, facilities, and equipment to assess compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Knowledge of Regulations: Comprehensive understanding of local, state, and federal regulations related to construction, environmental protection, and public safety.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in the use of measuring tools and equipment, as well as the ability to identify and evaluate potential hazards (e.g., fire safety, hazardous materials).
• Report Writing: Ability to prepare thorough inspection reports, outlining findings, recommendations, and any necessary legal actions.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills for effectively advising businesses and individuals on compliance issues, as well as addressing public complaints and concerns.
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills to investigate irregularities, complaints, and incidents, and recommend practical solutions to rectify issues.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 3581 and that the inspector’s experience and qualifications meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Inspectors of standards and regulations: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Inspectors of standards and regulations under SOC Code 3581.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Inspectors of standards and regulations, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Inspectors of standards and regulations under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Inspectors of standards and regulations. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Inspectors of standards and regulations applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Inspectors of standards and regulations’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Inspectors of standards and regulations can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Inspectors of standards and regulations

Before the Inspectors of standards and regulations begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Inspectors of standards and regulations’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Inspectors of standards and regulations holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Inspectors of standards and regulations’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Inspectors of standards and regulations’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Inspectors of standards and regulationss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Inspectors of standards and regulations

Sponsoring Inspectors of standards and regulations under SOC Code 3581 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Inspectors of standards and regulations, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Inspectors of standards and regulations under SOC Code 3581 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.