Every UK Business Should Sign the Social Recruitment Covenant Today
June 30, 2025Posted by:
UK recruitment is broken, but not beyond repair.
Each year, thousands of capable individuals are shut out of employment, not because they lack skill, but because of outdated hiring filters. These systems often reward polish over potential, pedigree over grit. But in 2025, with seismic shifts in public procurement policy and growing pressure for business to do more, that model no longer holds.
The Social Recruitment Covenant offers a smarter, more sustainable way forward.
From Margins to Mainstream: Why Inclusive Hiring Makes Sense
Let’s cut through the sentiment. Social hiring isn’t charity. It’s strategy.
Data from Social Value UK shows businesses that hire from disadvantaged groups see a 24–32% higher retention rate in frontline roles. These are people who want the chance to prove themselves. They’re more likely to stay, more committed, and more grateful for the opportunity. That means less turnover, lower hiring costs, and deeper team loyalty.
And this isn’t isolated. Large employers report improvements in team cohesion, innovation, and resilience when they diversify their talent pipelines. The bottom line? The so-called "hard to reach" are often the hardest working.
Avoid framing inclusive hiring as a nice-to-have. It’s a business growth lever.
From Margins to Mainstream: Why Inclusive Hiring Makes Sense
Let’s cut through the sentiment. Social hiring isn’t charity. It’s strategy.
Data from Social Value UK shows businesses that hire from disadvantaged groups see a 24–32% higher retention rate in frontline roles. These are people who want the chance to prove themselves. They’re more likely to stay, more committed, and more grateful for the opportunity. That means less turnover, lower hiring costs, and deeper team loyalty.
And this isn’t isolated. Large employers report improvements in team cohesion, innovation, and resilience when they diversify their talent pipelines. The bottom line? The so-called "hard to reach" are often the hardest working.
Don't frame inclusive hiring as a nice-to-have. It’s a business growth lever.
Legislation Is Leading. Are You Following?
In February 2025, the UK implemented the Procurement Act 2023, the most significant overhaul in public procurement in over a decade. Under Section 12, all contracting authorities must actively maximise public benefit in tendering decisions.
This isn't just a shift in language. It's a legal pivot.
Public contracts worth £284 billion annually, must now allocate at least 10% of tender scoring to social value. That includes local hiring, skills development, and support for vulnerable groups. The Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) model replaces MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender), making social impact as important as price.
Businesses aligned with these goals gain a competitive edge. Those that aren't? They risk falling behind.
Avoid treat social value as compliance. It’s competitive strategy.
Your Employer Brand Needs More Than Perks
Let’s be blunt: your best talent cares about purpose.
Deloitte’s 2024 Millennial Survey found that 70% of Gen Z and Millennial employees would take a pay cut to work for a company with clear values. A flashy office or wellness budget won’t mask a lack of social conscience.
Signing the Social Recruitment Covenant signals substance. It shows your commitment to equity, opportunity, and doing the right thing when no one's watching. That message travels, to candidates, customers, and investors.
And when done right, it builds a culture of inclusion from the inside out. Staff who feel their work matters are more engaged, loyal, and productive.
Culture isn't catered lunches. It’s shared values, visibly lived.
Commitment Drives Change and Consistency
Psychologists call it the "commitment-consistency principle": once we publicly commit to a belief or action, we’re more likely to align future behaviour to match. That’s why public pledges work.
Signing the Covenant is a catalyst. It moves intention into action. It anchors hiring managers, informs policy, and prompts systems change.
And it’s designed to be practical: PeoplePlus provides templates, training, and support. You won’t be left guessing. You’ll be building, with clarity, not complexity.
Avoid waiting until everything is perfect. Start, then improve.
Social Value Is the Future of Procurement
What the ESG movement was to investment, social value is to hiring and procurement. And the UK is leading the charge.
The 2025 Social Value Model integrates government missions, from economic growth to NHS transformation, into how contracts are awarded. Authorities must set KPIs for social outcomes. Supplier performance is publicly tracked. The standard? Deliver impact or lose credibility.
By embedding social value into your recruitment strategy now, you’re not just aligning with policy. You’re future proofing your business.
Don't assume this trend will fade. It won’t. It’s law.
What Does Your Hiring Actually Build?
Every job you offer is a vote for what matters, for who gets a shot, for what your company stands for.
The Social Recruitment Covenant isn’t just another pledge. It’s a line in the sand.
If your business believes in potential over polish, this is your move. If you value long-term impact over short-term optics, this is your moment.
Add your signature. Lead the shift. Build something better.
👉 Sign the Social Recruitment Covenant Now
June 30, 2025Posted by:
