Hiring and Sponsoring Market and street traders and assistants (SOC Code 7124)

Market and street traders and assistants, classified under SOC Code 7124, are essential players in the retail landscape, engaging directly with the public to offer a variety of goods in outdoor settings. Below are key aspects of their role:

• Product Display: Effectively displays products on stalls or barrows to attract customer interest.
• Customer Engagement: Uses vocal techniques or other methods to draw attention to goods on offer, creating an engaging shopping experience.
• Selling Goods: Engages in sales transactions at fixed prices or through negotiation with customers, enhancing the shopping dynamic.
• Payment Handling: Accepts payment for goods, often managing cash transactions and possibly credit card payments.
• Customer Service: Wraps goods for customers, ensuring a professional and pleasant transaction.
• Site Maintenance: Responsible for cleaning up the trading area at the end of each day’s operations, contributing to the upkeep of public spaces.

With the rise of local markets and street vending, the demand for skilled market and street traders continues to expand, creating opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to enter this sector. This guide will assist HR professionals in understanding the hiring and sponsorship processes for market and street traders under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Market and street traders and assistants?

SOC Code 7124 refers to market and street traders and assistants who engage in the sale of goods in various lively settings. Their responsibilities can include:

• Displaying products: Showcasing goods on stalls or barrows for customers to view and purchase.
• Attracting attention: Calling out or utilizing other methods to draw customers to their offerings.
• Selling goods: Offering products at a fixed price or engaging in bargaining with customers for sales.
• Accepting payments: Handling transactions and, in some cases, wrapping purchased goods for customers.
• Site maintenance: Cleaning up and organizing the trading site upon completion of each day’s activities.

Market and street traders and assistants play an essential role in local economies, contributing to vibrant community dynamics and providing unique goods and services to consumers.

Eligibility to Hire Market and street traders and assistants (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Market and street traders and assistants must exhibit strong interpersonal skills and meet specific qualifications to succeed in this role. These may include:

• Product Knowledge: A thorough understanding of the goods being sold, including features and benefits.
• Sales Skills: Ability to attract customers through effective communication and negotiation for both fixed price and bargained sales.
• Physical Stamina: Capability to manage the physical demands of setting up and taking down stalls or barrows daily.
• Customer Service Experience: Previous experience in retail or customer-facing roles to enhance the shopping experience.
• Site Management: Skills in cleaning and maintaining a tidy trading environment at the end of each day’s activities.
• Cash Handling: Experience in accepting payments, managing transactions, and providing change efficiently.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 7124, and that the trader’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

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

Sponsoring Market and street traders and assistants: 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 Market and street traders and assistants under SOC Code 7124.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Market and street traders and assistants, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Market and street traders and assistants 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 Market and street traders and assistants. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Market and street traders and assistants 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 Market and street traders and assistants’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 Market and street traders and assistants 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 Market and street traders and assistants

Before the Market and street traders and assistants 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 Market and street traders and assistants’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Market and street traders and assistants 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 Market and street traders and assistants’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Market and street traders and assistants’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 Market and street traders and assistantss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Market and street traders and assistants

Sponsoring Market and street traders and assistants under SOC Code 7124 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 Market and street traders and assistants, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Market and street traders and assistants under SOC Code 7124 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.