Man convicted for operating as an unlicensed gangmaster

Man convicted for operating as an unlicensed gangmaster
A man has been convicted after he was found to be operating as an unlicensed gangmaster in Warwickshire.
Peter McGuigan, 56, of Shop Lane, Telford, pleaded guilty to one count of acting as an unlicensed Gangmaster under S12 of the Gangmasters Licensing Act.
Between January 2022 and June 2023, McGuigan was supplying workers to an abattoir near Kenilworth, Wawrickshire.
Under legislation, businesses supplying workers into sectors including agriculture, horticulture, food processing and shellfish gathering must hold a valid gangmasters licence to protect workers from exploitation.
McGuigan was found to be supplying around 125 workers to the abattoir without a licence, and in August 2024, following an investigation, he was interviewed.
He claimed that because the workers he supplied were licenced slaughtermen, he did not require a gangmasters licence.
Further enquires by the Fair Work Agency found that McGuigan had been investigated in 2017, where he was told he needed a licence, and in 2019 his licence was revoked after an inspection found he was not working to a ‘fit and proper’ standard.
Although the licencing team had revoked his licence, McGuigan continued to operate without one.
Appearing before Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 15 July 2026, McGuigan pleaded guilty to the offence. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £400 and court costs of £85.
The court also imposed a 12-month Labour Market Enforcement Order (LMEO), requiring McGuigan to address his non-compliance. Failure to comply with the order could result in further enforcement action and penalties.
Senior Investigating Officer for the Fair Work Agency Andy Carter said:
McGuigan was fully aware of the requirement to hold a gangmasters licence, yet he repeatedly chose to ignore those obligations and continued supplying workers after his licence had been revoked.
This sentence sends a clear message about the importance of operating within the law. We will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to comply with licensing requirements.
I would like to thank our licensing team, file quality team and criminal investigations team for their hard work and professionalism in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.