What Professional Passport does

Professional Passport is a UK-based independent compliance accreditation body for the umbrella company and payment intermediary sector, founded in 2007 by CEO Crawford Temple. The company assesses and accredits umbrella companies, Professional Employment Organisations (PEOs), payroll bureaus, Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) providers, and accountancy firms against HMRC tax legislation and recognised sector best practice. Its Approved Providers directory and £5m insurance-backed guarantee are positioned as the only such compliance offering in the UK market, with the company reporting zero member losses through HMRC debt transfer across its 17+ year operating history.

The product surface consists of the core accreditation service, the Fortis platform (launched September 2025) which automates PAYE liability management and produces a demonstrable audit trail in response to HMRC's Joint and Several Liability rules effective April 2026, an API tool for programmatic provider credential verification, and a Managed Preferred Supplier List (PSL) service. Fortis integrates with recruitment management systems such as RSM InTime. The company also operates a network of 10+ Supply Partners spanning legal, insurance, fintech, payroll, and IR35 compliance services, and has co-developed the HMRC Payslip Checker tool with HMRC.

The business model relies on free membership for recruitment agencies and end clients (the demand side), while charging annual subscription/quote-based fees to umbrella companies and payroll providers for Approved Provider accreditation. Managed PSL services and the Fortis pilot are emerging higher-margin revenue streams. The company is privately held with 1-10 employees and no external funding, and distributes through direct sales, its website, an APSCo and REC membership footprint, and thought leadership via Crawford Temple's media commentary.

Name

Professional Passport

Legal name

Professional Passport Ltd.

Website

https://professionalpassport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Professional Passport is a UK independent compliance accreditation body assessing umbrella companies, PEOs, and payroll providers against HMRC legislation, offering an insurance-backed Approved Provider scheme, the Fortis audit-trail platform, and managed PSL services to recruitment agencies and end clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Supply Chain Membership: Free membership for end clients (employers) and recruitment companies seeking supply chain compliance support and access to approved provider listings.
2. Provider Compliance Accreditation: Approved Provider status fees charged to umbrella companies, PEOs, payroll bureaus, and other payment intermediaries seeking compliance verification and accreditation.
3. Managed PSL Services: Managed Preferred Supplier List services providing ongoing compliance management for recruitment companies, removing risk of debt transfer through Professional Passport's insurance-backed accreditation.
4. Fortis Platform Access: Pilot program for MSPs, agencies, and end clients to use the Fortis platform for compliance management and audit trail creation under new JSL legislation effective April 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Professional Passport is an independent compliance accreditation body that assesses umbrella companies, PEOs, payroll bureaus, and payment intermediaries against HMRC tax legislation and sector best-practice standards. The firm provides an insurance-backed Approved Provider accreditation (£5m guarantee) and operates the Fortis platform, which enables recruitment agencies and end clients to upload timesheets, generate PAYE reports, and create a demonstrable audit trail addressing HMRC joint and several liability rules effective April 2026.

Product overview

Professional Passport is a single unified compliance accreditation and compliance-management platform for the UK contractor and umbrella industry. The core offering is its independent compliance accreditation service, which assesses umbrella companies, PEOs, payroll bureaus, CIS providers, and accountancy firms against HMRC tax legislation and sector best-practice standards. The platform also includes the Fortis product — a PAYE liability management platform that addresses HMRC's Joint and Several Liability rules taking effect April 2026 by providing a single-upload audit trail for agencies managing workers across multiple umbrella companies. Additional components include an API credential-checking tool, a managed Preferred Supplier List service, and an Approved Providers directory. Supply Partners and partner integrations (RSM InTime, HMRC Payslip Checker) extend the platform's ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Professional Passport Fortis: A compliance platform designed to provide agencies and end clients with a single upload system for managing workers across umbrella companies, addressing joint and several liability risks under April 2026 legislation. The system creates a complete audit trail by tracking timesheets, payroll deductions, and PAYE payments directly to HMRC.

Products and services

• Professional Passport Accreditation & Compliance Services Independent compliance accreditation and assessment service for umbrella companies, payroll providers, and payment intermediaries. Tests against all relevant HMRC tax legislation and recognised sector best practice, offering a unique insurance-backed guarantee of up to £5m.
• Fortis PAYE liability management platform providing agencies and end clients with a single-upload workflow to manage all workers across all umbrella companies. Generates PAYE deduction reports, automates timesheet alerts to umbrella companies, and facilitates direct PAYE payment reporting to HMRC to create a demonstrable audit trail that removes Joint and Several Liability risk.
• Professional Passport API Tool API-based credential checking tool enabling agency members to programmatically verify company credentials against Professional Passport's Approved Provider list, supporting automated ongoing due diligence.
• Managed PSL (Preferred Supplier List) Managed preferred supplier list service that removes agencies and end clients from the risk of HMRC debt transfer while providing access to Professional Passport's insurance-backed provider compliance assessment. Includes a downloadable spreadsheet of all Approved Providers by category.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero agency or end client losses through debt transfer in 17+ years of operation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HMRCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Passport works with HMRC on compliance guidance and standards. The company collaborated with HMRC on development of the HMRC Payslip Checker tool for umbrella workers. Active engagement on JSL legislation guidance and compliance standards alignment.
• APSCocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Professional Staffing Companies membership. APSCo represents recruitment companies and staffing sector interests, providing Professional Passport with industry credibility and networking.
• The Chartered Institute of Taxation (LITRG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Low Incomes Tax Reform Group of CIOT and PRISM to produce independent guidance for umbrella company contractors. Factsheet on working through an umbrella company endorsed by CIOT.
• PRISMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for umbrella and payroll industry working with CIOT LITRG on contractor guidance documents and compliance best practices.
• BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement with government department on umbrella company regulation consultations, Key Information Document guidance, and Employment Agency Standards compliance.
• Beaumont SwissminorOthersSupply Partner offering legal services including umbrella and recruitment agency compliance, HMRC tax investigations, HR disputes and employment tribunal representation.
• Egos ConsultancyminorOthersSupply Partner with over 20 years supporting umbrella industry clients, providing in-depth understanding of employment status and contractor engagement requirements.
• i-SourcerminorOthersSupply Partner with over 20 years contractor payroll experience supporting UK umbrella companies with social media and LinkedIn training for BDMs.
• Marsh CommercialminorOthersSupply Partner providing bespoke insurance services to umbrella companies over 20 years with specialist Umbrella Choice policy covering contractors on PAYE, CIS/self-employed and single person limited companies.
• Partners&minorOthersSupply Partner offering next generation insurance advisory services including recruitment agency insurance, umbrella company insurance, freelance/contractor insurance, cyber liability, and tax loss consultancy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ppassport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/professional-passport

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Professional Passport