At The Sterling Group, compliance has always been more than a requirement. It is a core part of how we operate, how we support our partners and how we build trust across the labour supply chain.
That is why we are proud to announce that Sterling Solutions Umbrella Limited, Sterling Solutions Rail Limited and Sterling CIS Limited have successfully achieved Workforce Assured accreditation.
This is a milestone we are incredibly proud of. It independently demonstrates our firm commitment to the highest standards of compliance for both employees and self-employed contractors, while strengthening our position as a trusted, compliant umbrella and self-employed solution for agencies and end clients alike.
In an increasingly regulated environment, confidence, transparency and reduced risk matter more than ever. Achieving Workforce Assured accreditation provides additional independent confirmation that our systems, controls and processes are robust, compliant and aligned with current legislative guidelines.
This is particularly important in light of the Joint and Several Liability changes, which came into force on 6 April 2026. HMRC’s new PAYE rules for labour supply chains that include umbrella companies place increased emphasis on supply chain transparency, lawful workforce practices and due diligence across the chain.
For us, this accreditation reflects the standards we have been working towards and the compliance-first approach that has always shaped our business.
What is Workforce Assured accreditation?
Workforce Assured describes its accreditation as a standard for temporary labour and employment practices for the built environment, designed to support legal compliance, governance and best practice across labour supply chains. It is intended to give businesses and their supply-chain partners greater confidence that the right systems, controls and processes are in place.
In simple terms, Workforce Assured accreditation provides independent recognition that a business has been assessed against a compliance-focused standard.
That matters because in today’s market, saying the right things is not enough. Agencies and clients want reassurance that the businesses they work with are backed by robust processes, clear governance and a genuine commitment to doing things properly.
For The Sterling Group, this is exactly why the accreditation matters. Compliance has never been an afterthought for us. It has always been built into the way we work, the way we support our partners and the standards we hold ourselves to every day.
Why Workforce Assured accreditation matters now
The timing matters.
HMRC’s guidance on the new rules for umbrella company supply chains makes it clear that from 6 April 2026, responsibility for unpaid PAYE can move up the labour supply chain in certain circumstances. Where the correct PAYE is not paid, HMRC may pursue the agency with the direct contract to the end client, or the end client where no agency is involved.
HMRC also says employment businesses should carry out regular, reasonable and proportionate due diligence on umbrella companies, including identifying entities in the labour supply chain, understanding how workers are engaged and paid, and assessing risks of non-compliance.
That means compliance is no longer something businesses can afford to keep at arm’s length.
For agencies and end clients, choosing the right supply-chain partners now carries even greater weight. Confidence needs to be earned. Standards need to be evidenced. And due diligence needs to stand up to scrutiny.
That is where Workforce Assured accreditation has real value. It provides additional independent assurance that the systems and controls behind a business have been reviewed and assessed against a recognised standard.
What Workforce Assured accreditation means for agencies
For agencies, Workforce Assured accreditation offers an extra layer of reassurance in an environment where compliance expectations are rising fast.
Agencies need partners they can trust. Partners who understand the regulatory landscape, take governance seriously and operate with strong internal controls. They also need to be able to show clients that they are working with businesses that support transparency and reduce supply-chain risk.
Independent accreditation helps support that position. It gives agencies added confidence that the provider they are working with has been assessed against a compliance-focused standard and is committed to lawful, transparent workforce practices.
In practical terms, that can help strengthen due diligence, support procurement conversations and provide greater confidence when selecting umbrella and self-employed solutions.
What Workforce Assured accreditation means for end clients
For end clients, Workforce Assured accreditation is another marker of trust, accountability and reduced risk.
Labour supply chains can be complex, and complexity creates exposure. As regulation tightens, end clients are placing greater focus on who sits within their supply chain and whether those businesses are operating in a lawful, transparent and well-governed way. HMRC’s 2025 policy paper on umbrella company reform explicitly framed the changes as a response to non-compliance in labour supply chains and an effort to encourage stronger due diligence.
An accredited provider offers added reassurance that compliance is not being left to assumption.
It shows that systems, controls and processes have been independently reviewed, helping end clients feel more confident in the partners supporting their workforce.
What Workforce Assured accreditation means for The Sterling Group
For The Sterling Group, this is a proud achievement and an important milestone.
It reflects the work that has gone on behind the scenes, the strength of the processes we have built and the standards we have continued to invest in. Workforce Assured accreditation is not about collecting a badge for the sake of it. It is about demonstrating, independently, what has always mattered to us as a business: compliance, accountability and doing things properly.
It also strengthens our position as a trusted compliance partner for agencies and end clients across the supply chain.
We understand that trust is earned through consistency. Through transparency. Through strong governance and a genuine commitment to lawful workforce practices. This accreditation reinforces that commitment and gives our partners even greater confidence in the way we operate.
A milestone worth celebrating
We are proud to have achieved Workforce Assured accreditation, and proud of what it represents.
This is a milestone for Sterling Solutions Umbrella Limited, Sterling Solutions Rail Limited and Sterling CIS Limited, but it is also part of a much bigger picture. It reflects the standards we have been working towards, the compliance-first culture we have built, and the responsibility we know comes with supporting agencies, end clients and contractors in a changing regulatory environment.
As the market continues to evolve, our focus will remain the same: strong governance, robust systems and compliant workforce solutions that give our partners confidence.
Because for us, compliance is not just part of the job.
It is part of who we are.
Get in touch
If you have any queries or would like to speak to a member of our team, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 01925 626200.
