Licence pages
How to create and edit licence pages.
Licence pages are a special type of content that tell users how to apply for licences. You’ll see the word ‘Licence’ above the page title and it’ll be listed on the ‘Find a licence’ tool.
Before you start, you need to email the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Services Regulations team. They need to know that you’re creating a new licence so they can keep their information up to date.
DBT Services Regulations team
servicesregulations@businessandtrade.gov.uk
You should also email the licensing team as they can help you with the process of creating a new licence.
Licensing team
licensing-authorities@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk
Once you’ve done that, you can create the new licence page.
You’ll need to have access to the ‘Licences’ option on Specialist Publisher.
If you do not have access, either:
- ask one of your organisation admins to give you access to Specialist Publisher with the ‘licence transaction editor’ permission
- use the accounts form to ask for access to Specialist Publisher with the ‘licence transaction editor’ permission, if you’re the only organisation admin
If you have access, click on ‘Add a new licence’ and add all the content.
When you’re done, click the ‘Save as draft’ button and then the ‘Publish’ button.
There are different ways to make edits depending on the type of licence page.
For pages where users click on a button to apply on an external website (for example ‘Food examiner appointment (England, Northern Ireland, Wales)’), you can update all of the content yourself in Specialist Publisher.
For pages where users enter their postcode and are directed to their local authority (for example ‘Premises licence (England and Wales)’):
- you can update the first page, and anywhere else that same text appears on the following pages, in Specialist Publisher
- for any other changes, you’ll need to ask the relevant local authority to make the updates in the licensing tool
For pages where users click on the ‘How to apply’ link and apply through the methods specified on the following pages (for example ‘Register as a number plate supplier’):
- you can update the first page in Specialist Publisher
- someone in your organisation can update the other pages in the licensing tool
How to edit pages in Specialist Publisher
You’ll need to have access to the ‘Licences’ option in Specialist Publisher.
If you do not have access, either:
- ask one of your organisation admins to give you access to Specialist Publisher with the ‘licence transaction editor’ permission
- use the accounts form to ask for access to Specialist Publisher with the ‘licence transaction editor’ permission, if you’re the only organisation admin
If you have access and the page is tagged to your organisation, you can make edits to the content by:
- clicking on the relevant licence
- clicking on the ‘Edit document’ button
- making the changes
- clicking the ‘Save as draft’ button and then the ‘Publish’ button
How to edit pages in the licensing tool
Pages in the licensing tool are part of a template. Only some very minor parts of the template can be edited through the licensing tool, like fees and contact details.
If it’s an editable part, you’ll need to either get someone at the local authority or someone in your organisation to make the changes. Take a look at the ‘from’ line under the title to see who’s responsible for the page.
The person making the update will need to have access to the licensing tool with the ‘authority administrator’ permission.
If they have those permissions, they can make edits by:
- clicking on the ‘Customisation’ tab in the top banner of the licensing tool
- finding the relevant licence and clicking the ‘Customise’ link next to it
- clicking the ‘Edit’ button next to the licence name
- making the changes
- clicking ‘Save and edit’ and then ‘Publish’
You should contact the licensing team if:
- the person updating the page needs help making the changes
- you want to make changes to the template itself and not just the editable parts
- you want to give someone access to the licensing tool and the appropriate permissions to make the changes
Licensing team
licensing-authorities@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk