Breaking Down Hiring Barriers with the Social Recruitment Covenant
May 09, 2025Posted by:
Inclusive hiring often happens in everyday moments. It isn’t always a big, branded programme - it’s the line manager who invites someone with a CV gap for a paid trial; the shift planner who thoughtfully tweaks hours so a parent can juggle childcare; the HR team that looks for potential rather than perfect qualifications. These small, common-sense decisions unlock opportunity - and with 1.8 million working-age adults economically inactive yet wanting a job, the need to scale those acts of fairness has never been greater.
These values led decisions shape thousands of workplaces across the UK, yet they’ve seldom been celebrated or shared. That’s precisely what the Social Recruitment Covenant is here to change.
The Social Recruitment Covenant captures and uplifts these unseen acts of decency, giving them a name, a platform and a national community. By adding a signature, businesses amplify their impact, close the recognition gap and connect with peers and partners driving inclusive hiring across the UK - without adding new hoops to leap through. Signing means being connected to a movement that can help now, and being better placed for what the future holds.
It's why each signature is supported by being part of a national movement that recognises the inclusive hiring choices you’re already making. Social recruitment opens doors for individuals facing barriers, and the Social Recruitment Covenant opens doors for businesses providing recognition, credibility, and connections to a community committed to responsible hiring.
Recognising What’s Already Happening
The Social Recruitment Covenant is not about rewriting job descriptions or introducing more bureaucracy. It’s about shining a light on what many employers are already doing - hiring with heart, seeing potential over paper trails, and making space for those who need it most.
When a business chooses potential over perfection, it’s an example of practicing social recruitment. The Social Recruitment Covenant brings that good work into the spotlight, offering:
- A Name for Everyday Good Practice: If you’ve ever hired someone despite gaps in their CV or a messy work record, you’re already part of this movement. The Social Recruitment Covenant simply gives it a name and a platform to be recognised.
- A Platform for Sharing Success: Adding your signature allows you to demonstrate genuine commitment on your website, in tender documents, and even on the side of your company van. Your story of responsible hiring becomes part of a bigger narrative.
- A Community of Like-Minded Peers: By joining the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group, you’re connecting with others who understand the value of inclusive hiring, from national brands to local trade specialists. It’s a space to learn, share ideas, and celebrate real impact.
This isn’t about changing what you do. It's about getting credit for what you’re already doing right.
What Signing the Social Recruitment Covenant does for your business
- Credibility in Procurement: With social-value scoring becoming mandatory, a Social Recruitment Covenant signature can streamline bids and reassure commissioners with no extra paperwork required.
- Boosted Internal Morale: Frontline managers, HR teams, and small-business owners see their daily decisions recognised, building pride and momentum across the workforce.
- Positive Next Steps at Your Pace: Optional guidance and case studies are available to help you gradually embed new inclusive practices when it suits you.
- Amplification of Existing Efforts: The Social Recruitment Covenant badge and graphic assets let you share your commitment without creating more work for your team.
The Social Recruitment Covenant is built to open doors, not close them. It’s a bridge to greater visibility, stronger credibility, and deeper community ties without any of the red tape.
A Movement of Hundreds and Growing
Hundreds of businesses have already signed the Social Recruitment Covenant, each helping to close the “recognition gap” that leaves good practice unseen. Their involvement inspires others to follow suit, accelerating the shift to social recruitment as mainstream practice.
Signatories like Lidl, Amey, M Group, OMNI Group, Sureserve, and IKEA have begun showcasing the Social Recruitment Covenant badge on careers pages, in bid documents, and across social channels. Just some of the benefits reported:
- Increased Candidate Interest: More visibility attracts diverse talent who see your business as inclusive and forward-thinking.
- Strengthened Team Pride: Employees recognise their work as part of something larger, deepening their connection to the company’s values.
- Enhanced Credibility in Procurement: With social value moving up the agenda, the Social Recruitment Covenant badge is more than symbolic - it’s strategic.
The Social Recruitment Covenant isn’t just a gesture - it’s the focal point for a movement.
Who Can Sign the Social Recruitment Covenant?
Any UK-based employer, large or small, who has ever taken a chance on someone. If your business has hired with heart or plans to embrace inclusive recruitment from now on, you’re already part of this story. The Social Recruitment Covenant just gives you the platform to share it.
Signing is Simple:
- It takes under a minute.
- It’s completely free.
- It connects you to a community of employers committed to responsible hiring.
The Social Recruitment Covenant is not a checklist - it’s a declaration. It’s a commitment to the idea that work should open doors, not close them. If you believe that your hiring choices deserve to be seen, if you want to stand alongside hundreds of others who see potential before perfection, then it’s time to sign.
Add a business signature to the Social Recruitment Covenant
There are no hidden hurdles - just recognition for the good work you’re already doing.
May 09, 2025Posted by:
