A man from Telford has been convicted and fined for operating as an unlicensed gangmaster, supplying approximately 125 workers to an abattoir near Kenilworth, Warwickshire, without the necessary legal authorisation. Peter McGuigan, 56, of Shop Lane, pleaded guilty to one count of acting as an unlicensed Gangmaster under Section 12 of the Gangmasters Licensing Act at Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 15 July 2026. The Fair Work Agency’s investigation revealed that McGuigan had been supplying staff between January 2022 and June 2023.
Under UK legislation, businesses that supply workers to specific sectors, including agriculture, horticulture, food processing, and shellfish gathering, are legally required to hold a valid gangmasters licence. This crucial measure is in place to safeguard workers from potential exploitation and ensure fair employment practices. McGuigan’s defence that he did not require a licence because the workers were licensed slaughtermen was dismissed, particularly given his history with licensing authorities.
Further enquiries by the Fair Work Agency uncovered that McGuigan had been previously investigated in 2017, where he was informed of the licensing requirement. More significantly, his gangmasters licence was revoked in 2019 following an inspection that deemed he was not meeting the 'fit and proper' standard for operation. Despite this revocation, McGuigan continued to operate, supplying a substantial number of workers without the legal framework designed to protect them.
Senior Investigating Officer for the Fair Work Agency, Andy Carter, emphasised the seriousness of the offence, stating, “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licence, yet he repeatedly chose to ignore those obligations and continued supplying workers after his licence had been revoked.” Carter added that the sentence sends a clear message about the importance of operating within the law, and that the agency would continue to take action against those who fail to comply.
In addition to the financial penalties, which included a £1,000 fine, a £400 victim surcharge, and £85 in court costs, the court also imposed a 12-month Labour Market Enforcement Order (LMEO) on McGuigan. This order mandates that he address his non-compliance issues. Failure to adhere to the terms of the LMEO could lead to further enforcement actions and more severe penalties, underscoring the court's commitment to preventing worker exploitation.