A chip shop owner in Surrey has been fined £40,000 by the Home Office for allegedly hiring an illegal worker — a penalty that has been branded a “brutal reminder of an unfair system”.
In March, Home Office officials raided Big Fry Fish & Chips in Egham, Surrey, and detained a man working there, claiming he did not have the right to work in the UK.
According to a report in The Guardian, owner Mark Sullivan had been provided with what appeared to be legitimate documentation for the worker. This included a National Insurance number, student loan payment records, housing benefit receipts from the local council, and a photocopy of a passport. The employee was also paid through the official PAYE system via HMRC.
However, Mark admitted he had not seen the original passport — a lapse he described as a “clerical error.” It was later revealed that the documents belonged to another person.
Despite cooperating with the Home Office and receiving a £5,000 discount for doing so, the takeaway was still handed a £40,000 fine. It was given the option to pay £28,000 within 21 days or contest the fine and risk it increasing to £80,000. Mark chose to settle.
Speaking to The Guardian, Mark said:“The fine is devastating. We’re just a small business. I’ve employed people all my life. I’ve never employed anybody working illegally deliberately.”
The case has sparked wider concern among small business advocates. George Holmes, managing director of business finance experts Aurora Capital, commented on the broader implications: “This case is a brutal reminder of how unforgiving the system can be for small businesses. Even when owners think they’ve followed the rules, the cost of getting it wrong, or being left in the dark, can be enough to shut them down entirely.
“Small firms don’t have compliance teams or legal departments, so they rely on clear guidance and fair warnings. Disproportionate punishments for honest mistakes erode trust and create fear, which is the opposite of what small businesses need in an already tough and uncertain environment.
“This isn’t just about one chip shop, and is a stark warning for all small businesses. Fines must be fair and proportionate or one mistake could prove fatal. The current system seems to be set up to penalise and hold back our high streets, when they need to be nurtured and supported more than ever.”
