A Big John’s takeaway branch in Selly Oak, Birmingham, was discovered to be employing an illegal worker during a Home Office immigration raid last June. The Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team visited the Bristol Road outlet on June 19, uncovering four employees, including one working illegally in the kitchen.
The worker, a Pakistani national who came to the UK on a student visa, was only allowed to work 20 hours per week during term time. However, evidence from his mobile phone revealed he was working full-time hours—between 45 and 61 hours weekly—well beyond his permitted limit. Text messages between the worker and a manager confirmed this extensive work schedule.
He admitted to working eight weeks at the outlet and disclosed receiving £6 per hour paid in cash, significantly below the legally mandated minimum wage. He had no income tax deductions or National Insurance number. The worker explained he accepted the pay because he needed financial support and stated that no right-to-work checks were conducted before his employment—an obligatory legal requirement.
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The Home Office highlighted that management was aware of his restricted right to work but allowed him to work excessive hours regardless. The premises, licensed to Two Bros Brands Ltd and associated with RBW Selly Oak Limited, was issued a £45,000 Civil Penalty Notice in November 2023, which remains unpaid.
Following these findings, the Home Office has applied to Birmingham City Council’s licensing department to review and revoke the venue’s premises licence due to serious breaches undermining the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objectives.
The Home Office’s submission stated that the illegal working arrangement was knowingly facilitated by management, demonstrating serious non-compliance and exploitation. It argued that simply imposing additional conditions or suspending the licence would be insufficient and called for full revocation to serve as a deterrent to this and other premises.
The licensing committee will review the case following a statutory consultation period ending on July 2.