Commercial modeling agencies in United Kingdom

This catalogue lists 42 verified agencies in United Kingdom, including Models 1, Nevs, Premier Model Management and Storm. Only agencies with a current licence or professional-association membership, or confirmed by at least two independent sources, are included.

No. Licensing of employment agencies was abolished on 3 January 1995, and a licence is now needed only by labour providers in agriculture and food and by nursing and care services. Agencies operate under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the 2003 Conduct Regulations, which ban upfront fees for models. That is why our catalogue includes only BFMA members, or companies active on the Companies House register that show a live board and are covered by at least two independent sources.

The BFMA (British Fashion Model Agents Association) is the UK's association of model agencies; it was previously called the AMA (Association of Model Agents). It was founded in 1974 and is officially affiliated with the British Fashion Council. To join, an agency must have traded for at least two years, earn only commission on bookings, have no link with a school or any other business that makes money from would-be models, keep a client account and pay models within 10 days of being paid by the client. In October 2026 it had 21 members.

No. Under regulation 26 and Schedule 3 of the 2003 Conduct Regulations, an agency may charge a fashion or photographic model only a commission on the fees for work it found. Since 1 October 2010 it has also been expressly banned from charging models to be included in a publication or on a website. Such a fee may be charged only after work has been found and only if agreed in advance. Photos or other services must be in a separate contract, cannot be a condition of finding you work, and you can cancel them within the first 30 days without paying anything.

It depends on how long you will work. For one pre-arranged job, an adult established model may be able to use a Permitted Paid Engagement with an ETA. Work of up to 3 months uses the Creative Worker concession: you need a UK sponsor's certificate (CoS) and an ETA, and on arrival a stamp in your passport from an officer. Longer work needs a Creative Worker visa of up to 12 months. People with status under the EU Settlement Scheme do not need these permissions.

No. An ETA lets you visit for up to 6 months, but you cannot do paid or unpaid work with it. The exceptions are a Permitted Paid Engagement and work under the Creative Worker concession, which also requires a certificate of sponsorship. An ETA costs £20, lasts two years and does not guarantee entry.

The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. If you spend 183 days or more in the UK in a tax year you are usually resident; a non-resident pays UK tax only on UK income. For TV or online adverts and catwalk shows at events with paid entry, the client withholds 20% from a non-resident once its payments in the tax year exceed £12,570; still photo shoots are not covered. If you become resident and work for yourself, you must register for Self Assessment. The UK and Lithuania have a double taxation convention.

A child under school leaving age needs a licence from the local council for paid modelling work (section 37 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963). The person running the job applies for it. If the child does not live in Great Britain, the licence is issued by the council where the applicant lives or has its place of business. If the child is not with a parent, teacher or home tutor, they must be supervised by a council-approved chaperone.

Since 7 April 2026, employment agencies in England, Scotland and Wales have been regulated by the Fair Work Agency, which replaced the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate. You can complain about pay and work rights through its service on GOV.UK. If the agency is a BFMA member, it is also worth telling the association.