Unannounced audits to protect exam integrity and identify gaps in practice.
Independent mystery shopping of exam centres to test security, malpractice prevention, and protocol compliance.



How Serve Legal can help
The Risk
Poor practice in exam centres can lead to reputational damage, loss of accreditation trust, and regulatory penalties from bodies like Ofqual.

How Serve Legal Helps
Through our StoreCheckers service, we deploy trained auditors to act as real candidates, testing exam-day procedures in live conditions. We assess ID verification, prohibited item checks, technology misuse detection, and adherence to awarding body protocols including JCQ and Ofqual regulations. By simulating real scenarios, we give you an authentic view of how your standards are upheld — and where improvements are needed.

Who we are
Serve Legal is a legal compliance business with a large, nationwide auditor community. We deliver realistic, adaptable audits for awarding bodies, identifying risks and supporting proactive improvement in exam security and fairness.




Frequently asked questions
Yes — we regularly update scenarios to reflect emerging risks in the sector.
Our success stories
“We have worked with Serve Legal since 2008. During that time they have conducted over 14,000 audits to all of our stores in Scotland, North of England and Northern Ireland. Several stores are in very remote areas, as far north as Wick and Thurso. Serve Legal has always been able to visit any store that we have requested no matter how challenging the location. The audit reports are always delivered in an accurate and timely manner and the management team have a pro-active approach and are always looking for ways to improve their service to their customers. We would have no hesitation in recommending Serve Legal to others.”
“We use Serve Legal regularly to carry out tests on our compliance with age restricted sales. This includes tobacco and the recently introduced tobacco display ban. They deliver a reliable and efficient service within agreed deadlines and with very few data errors. They are able to swiftly provide accurate analysis of our data which helps with our training and future testing programs.”
“We have worked with Serve Legal since 2014 and they have significantly helped us to combat illegal broadcasting in the UK and Ireland. Their knowledge, expertise and robust auditing in conjunction with the prompt supply of infringement data has generated over 8,000 leads; which has led to valuable leads for our sales force and investigation team to defend our investment in exclusive sports content. Serve Legal have consistently delivered against agreed KPIs.”
“We have worked with Serve Legal since 2009 and they have helped us to significantly reduce our risk with age-restricted sales. They have played a key role in monitoring our risk across a range of age-restricted products. Their knowledge, speed of service and flexible data provision helps us to sharpen our training and inform our future approach to compliance.”
“The Serve Legal information is extremely useful, informative and well presented. The issues with sites not using ‘Challenge 25’ can now be dealt with the backing of evidence of where they’re failing. I am most pleased with how the surveys are being conducted and appreciate the detailed information provided.”
“Using an independent test purchase service such as Serve Legal demonstrates to the local authorities that I am taking the issue of underage sales seriously. The due diligence provided is invaluable and has played an important role in defending my license in a recent licensing hearing.”
“We have worked with Serve Legal since 2008. The visit reports are always delivered in an accurate and timely manner. The accuracy and consistency of the information provided has allowed us to identify training needs, target resource, protect our business and improve our compliance. I would have no hesitation in recommending Serve Legal to others.”
“We use Serve Legal monthly to conduct test purchases of alcohol, in order to monitor our adherence to our Challenge 25 policy. This is also extended to campaigns of test purchasing on other age-restricted products. The professionalism and flexibility they offer has assisted us in improving our compliance levels, and where required, using targeted activity. The online portal provides easy to read data in a timely fashion for reporting.”
“We have worked with Serve Legal since 2009 and they have helped us to significantly reduce our risk with age restricted sales. They have played a key role in monitoring our risk across a wide range of age restricted products. Their knowledge, speed of service and flexible data provision helps us to sharpen our training and inform our future approach to compliance.”
“Serve Legal was appointed by my company in order that we gain valued feedback from a licensing perspective. The relationship between Serve legal and my business is friendly, professional and feels personal. The feedback we have gained is invaluable to our operation, we have been able to use the data to make changes in our business to ensure a risk free operation. I would highly recommend.”
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About us
In early 2006, Ed Heaver and Julian Sargeson were alcohol retailers with a problem. The local authority had decided one of their sites was consistently serving underage people.
They wanted to check their staff, measure the site performance and demonstrate to the authority they were taking the issue seriously. They couldn't find a company providing a cost-effective service, so they decided to do it themselves.
The business has since grown to become the market leading provider of compliance auditing services in the UK & Ireland, and a leading voice in the conversations around age-verification and food allergy policy.
Our Customer Experience Allergen audit has been designed in collaboration with an experienced Environmental Health Practitioner and is approved by Trading Standards.
Our Awards
Don't just take our word for it, see the awards that back up our claims of excellence.

Elite Business Finalist 2025
Moneypenny Customer Service of the Year Award

Elite Business Award Winner 2025
Top 100 SME Businesses - #8 in the UK

Growing Business Awards Winner 2023
Customer Experience and Loyalty Award

The Golden Grocer Awards 2022 Finalist
Business Initiative of the Year

Growing Business Awards Winner 2022
B2B Business of the Year

Business Champion Awards 2022 Finalist
Business Community Award
Frequently asked questions
Serve Legal also offers age-verification audits, facial biometric accuracy and fairness auditing, revenue protection, responsible gambling, digital media and sports broadcasting compliance audits as well as customer service and experience audits.
We are flexible and work with our clients to accommodate changes in scheduling or other unforeseen circumstances.
Within 24 hours of visiting a site, the auditor completes their report. Within 48 hours, the report is thoroughly checked and sent automatically to the named client contact(s).
Our team of Area Managers personally brief the required process to each Auditor, supported by a bespoke briefing document. Each received report is also thoroughly checked and validated by our specialist Approving Team.
Serve Legal has created a unique community of Auditors which cover all areas of the UK and ROI every day, all year round.

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Get in touch today with a member of our team!
Start operating confidently when it comes to age-restricted products
Looking to work for us as one of our mystery shoppers?