Corporate Entertainment · May 2026
DBS Checks for Entertainment at Corporate Events: What Planners Need to Know
Quick Answer
DBS checks are not legally required for performers at standard corporate events in the UK. They become relevant when performers will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults — for example at family fun days, school events, or healthcare sector events. For standard corporate entertainment, public liability insurance verification is the primary compliance requirement. AnyGig verifies PLI status on every performer profile.
DBS checks are one of the most frequently misunderstood compliance requirements in corporate entertainment. Many event planners either over-specify them when they're not needed, or fail to request them in the rare situations where they are genuinely required.
When DBS Checks Are Required for Performers
A DBS check is legally relevant when a performer will have regular, unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults as a defined part of their role. In a corporate entertainment context, this typically applies to:
- Family fun day entertainers working with children in a supervised activity capacity
- Performers at NHS Trust or social care sector events where vulnerable adults will be present
- School or education sector events where children are the primary audience
- Children's party entertainers working in a professional childcare-adjacent capacity
When DBS Checks Are Not Required
For standard corporate events — gala dinners, awards ceremonies, Christmas parties, conferences, away days — DBS checks are not a legal requirement. Adults attending these events are not classified as vulnerable adults simply by being at a corporate function. Requesting DBS checks for standard corporate entertainment is unnecessary and may deter high-quality performers.
What Is Required at Standard Corporate Events
- Public liability insurance — minimum £5 million cover is standard
- Risk assessments for speciality acts (fire performers, aerial acts)
- PAT testing certificates for performers using electrical equipment
- Written contracts covering cancellation, liability, and payment terms
AnyGig Compliance Features
Where a performer has supplied a Public Liability Insurance certificate and AnyGig has checked it, the status and check date are shown on their profile. AnyGig automatically generates contracts on every booking covering liability, cancellation, and payment terms. For events requiring performers with DBS status shown, filter by verified DBS status when posting your brief.
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Every AnyGig booking includes verified PLI, automatic contracts, and escrow payment records.
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