Personal licence
A licensed premises which sells or supplies alcohol needs a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).
There can only be one DPS per premises. The DPS takes responsibility for what happens at the premises and the training of the staff. The DPS does not need to be there at all times.
To be the DPS at a premises, you need to have a personal licence.
You will also need to have an accredited qualification to apply for a personal licence, as well as a basic disclosure certificate.
You need to apply for a personal licence from the licensing authority where you live, not where you work. If you live in the Chelmsford area you need to apply to us, even if you work elsewhere.
To apply for a personal licence, you will need to apply online.
To support your application, you will need to upload scanned copies of:
- your training certificate
- a Basic DBS certificate issues no more than 31 days ago
- two passport photos, with one endorsed on the back to verify your likeness to the photo
- proof that you have the right to live and work in the UK. This can be through evidence documents or a Home Office share code (you can find information about right of abode on GOV.UK)
When you apply, you will need to pay the fee of £37.
You must provide two scanned copies of passport photos when you apply for a personal licence.
The photo must:
- be passport size (45mm high x 35mm wide)
- have a plain background
- show your full face (no glasses or head covering unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
You must sign the back of one of the photos, and someone else must confirm the other photo is you. This person must sign and date the back of the photograph and confirm it is you in the photo. The person cannot be your spouse or a relative, and you must have known them for at least two years.
Some examples of those who can counter-sign photos submitted with personal applications includes:
- Doctor
- Accountant
- Bank or Building Society official
- Fire Service Officer
- Solicitor or Notary
- Local Government Officer
- Police Officer
- Religious Minister
- Optician
- Director or Chair of a Limited Company
- Teacher
- Councillor
Once we receive your application, we will:
- acknowledge it within three working days
- notify you of the outcome
If we do not grant your licence, we will not refund your fee.
You do not need to renew this licence. It is valid until you surrender it, we revoke it or your right to work in the UK lapses.
If you have a personal licence and your name or address changes, you will need to apply online to change your details on your licence:
Change your personal licence details
To support your application you will need:
- evidence of the name change, such as a marriage certificate (if your name has changed)
- to pay the fee of £10.50
If your current licence photo is no longer a good likeness, you can upload a new passport photo with the application.
Once we receive your application, we will:
- acknowledge it within three days
- send you a new copy of your personal licence via post
You should return your old licence to us via post, addressed to:
Licensing Section
Chelmsford City Council
Civic Centre
Duke Street
CM1 1JE
If you lose your personal licence, or if someone steals it, you can request a new copy online:
Request a new copy of your licence
You will need to pay the £10.50 fee.
If your current licence photo is no longer a good likeness, you can upload a new passport photo with the application.
Once we receive your application, we will:
- acknowledge it within three working days
- send you a new copy of your personal licence via post
You should also return any elements of your old licence still in your possession to us via post, addressed to:
Licensing Section
Chelmsford City Council
Civic Centre
Duke Street
CM1 1JE
If you are surrendering your personal licence, you must let us know:
Surrender your personal licence
Once we receive your request, we will:
- acknowledge it within three days
- send you confirmation we have removed you from our list of active personal licence holders
To complete the process of surrendering your licence, you must send your licence to us via post, addressed to:
Licensing Section
Chelmsford City Council
Civic Centre
Duke Street
CM1 1JE
You must contact us if we don't have your email address and you wish to:
- change your licence details
- request a new copy
You should tell us:
- your name
- your address
- your email address
- your personal licence number
Once you submit your enquiry we will:
- acknowledge it within three working days
- let you know via email when we have associated your email address with your personal licence
If you don't already have an account with us, the first time you attempt to log in you must:
- select "sign up"
- confirm your email address
- create an account