Social Recruitment Covenant Launches in Parliament
November 07, 2024Posted by:
On 6th November at Westminster’s Portcullis House, we officially launched the Social Recruitment Covenant with a landmark event attended by over 150 employers, government ministers, and members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, to support a commitment to hire people who often face barriers to employment. Among the first 100 organisations to sign this pledge were major employers like Lidl, Amey, and Openreach, along with Currys, IKEA and Timpson, all committing to recruit from a broader pool of candidates, including those who may not have traditional work experience or qualifications. The Covenant, supported by the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group (SRAG) and convened by PeoplePlus, is a pledge to adopt inclusive recruitment and employment practices to help people overcome the barriers to employment endemic in traditional recruitment practices and is designed to increase workplace diversity and tackle economic inactivity across the UK.
The Minister for Employment Alison McGovern MP, who was a speaker at the launch, described how the Covenant supports social mobility. She emphasised that while education is important, the workplace is often where people gain the most valuable experience and growth, commenting; “More time is spent in work than in education, and it’s in the workplace where support, coaching, and skills are built,” The Minister commended and thanked the Covenant’s signatories for their dedication to giving more people the opportunity to succeed by creating work environments where individuals from all walks of life can find a fair chance to build careers.
Kenny Boyle, Group Managing Director of the PeoplePlus, stated that employment remains the top priority for people seeking change, and the Covenant offers a route to reshape the workforce with positive social impact.
The Social Recruitment Covenant has been supported by SRAG members and Chair, the Rt Hon. Anne Milton who have been developing best practice around targeted inclusive recruitment for the different groups of people in need of support and working together to help employers reach and successfully onboard them. This includes prison-leavers, carers, neurodiverse people, older workers, long-term unemployed people, young people not in education or employment (NEETS) and many more.
During the launch Lidl’s Regional Director shared examples of how inclusive hiring at Lidl is already helping people move past difficult circumstances. Whilst the Director from partner organisation The Association of Accessible Employers described how her team is working to bring attention to this issue by highlighting real stories of those who have benefited from social recruitment. Many employees from organisations like Amey, who were founding signatories of the Covenant and are now at Gold Charter Mark status, were also present to share their own experiences of how inclusive hiring practices have helped them find stable work after facing barriers to employment. “It’s not just about hiring—it’s about breaking cycles, uplifting communities, and changing lives,” said a representative from Amey.
The Social Recruitment Covenant is designed to benefit not just individuals, but entire communities. By committing to this approach, companies are recognising that opening doors for people who have faced barriers can improve lives and strengthen local economies. By welcoming them into the workforce, companies are helping to build a UK job market that is fairer, stronger, and more resilient.
As more companies join SRAG and sign the Covenant, the hope is that inclusive hiring will become a norm rather than an exception.
The Covenant launch marks a significant step forward in creating a fairer job market. We encourage companies across the UK to join this movement, helping to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of communities and ensures that everyone—regardless of background—has the opportunity to thrive in meaningful work.
All the photos from the event can be viewed here
November 07, 2024Posted by:
