Latest posts to Recruit!
In 2018 research by Unlock found that 70% of well-known national employers asked about criminal records on application. Three years on, with increased understanding of data protection, the GDPR and inclusive recruitment, we reviewed those employers to see what, if anything had changed. Key findings in 2018 The 2018 findings were disappointing, though perhaps not […]
Delivering everything from social care, housing and planning and waste collection, to licensing, registrar services and pest control, local authorities need to recruit for vast and varied needs. With 343 local authorities in England and 22 in Wales the sector provides employment for more than 2 million people. Every employer wants to recruit the best […]
Samantha contacted Unlock’s helpline for advice on applying for a ‘Through the Gate’ role with Sodexo. The job involved helping women prepare for leaving prison and would be subject to prison vetting. Sodexo has banned the box, so Samantha was surprised to see the application form ask: Have you ever been convicted of any offences […]
The Old Vic is an independent, not-for-profit theatre in London and a world leader in creativity and entertainment. It was the original home of the English National Opera, the Sadler’s Wells dance company and the National Theatre. It has also served the community, over the last 200 years, as a tavern, a coffee house, meeting […]
The Key provides tools and services to education leaders. Unlock worked with The Key on their new guidance on asking about criminal records. Following the introduction of the GDPR, The Key took legal advice on how schools should collect criminal records information. As most roles in schools are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act […]
NHS Employers have a new look website with brand new guidance on recruiting people with criminal records. NHS Employers worked in partnership with Unlock, Nacro and Capsticks on their new approach and have made some important changes to the process. Most importantly, the guidance on seeking a self-declaration has been updated. NHS recruiters should no longer be […]
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) includes Waitrose and John Lewis. Their online application form asks applicants to indicate whether they have an unspent conviction. The question is compulsory. Selecting ‘Yes’ from the drop-down menu leads to the request for details. The application doesn’t explain why this information is necessary, or what will happen to it. […]
Greggs’ Fresh Start programme has been running since 2012. In that time they say they have employed one hundred people with previous convictions and that 32% are now in some form of management role. The Fresh Start programme recruits people in prison who are eligible to work outside on ROTL, and is also open to […]
Some applications for retail positions in Spar stores ask about criminal records. We contacted Spar to understand why and the Head of HR confirmed: …we do not ask applicants questions regarding Criminal Records and we do not need to (given the nature of our work) undertake DBS checks. It’s refreshing to see a retailer assess […]
Bloomsbury Institute London (formerly the London School of Business and Management) has become the first higher education institute in the UK to Ban the Box for students and staff. Founded in 2002, Bloomsbury Institute is built around an academic community that values diversity, curiosity and hard work and they dedicated to welcoming anyone who has […]