A new cross-sector initiative aiming to transform how the UK recruits talent was launched last week at the Houses of Parliament. The UK Hiring Taskforce, announced on 16 May 2025, brings together over 200 employers, recruiters, policymakers, and tech leaders to create a national hiring strategy focused on efficiency, fairness, and inclusion.
Rethinking the System
The Taskforce, led by the Better Hiring Institute in collaboration with Parliamentarians and major industry sponsors, will develop a blueprint for reforming outdated recruitment practices — from CV-based hiring and traditional referencing to job advert accessibility and candidate verification systems.
Keith Rosser, Chair of the Better Hiring Institute, said:
“We want a national hiring strategy. What do we think the future looks like if we could start again – forget the baggage, forget the medieval CVs, the Victorian references, the industrial revolution job adverts – and think about what starting again would look like?”
The initiative aims to replace what organisers call “fragmented and inconsistent” hiring approaches with streamlined digital methods that prioritise inclusivity and transparency.
Addressing Inefficiencies with Technology
A key priority of the Taskforce is addressing inefficiencies in the job market through data-led hiring and better use of digital tools.
Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for AI and Intellectual Property and a Taskforce leader, said:
“I’ve been worrying for years that the job market is too inefficient… I would love us to start making progress together in that direction. Although it is a data problem, digitalisation and AI have made it worse.”
The group will explore the role of artificial intelligence, digital credentials, and national standards to ensure hiring is faster, fairer, and safer — particularly for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.
Industry Support and Next Steps
The Hiring Taskforce has secured the backing of organisations including Reed Screening, Equifax, Harvey Nash, Konfir, and ThriveMap. These partners will contribute expertise and help shape recommendations over the coming months.
Working groups will now begin gathering insights from employers, jobseekers, and technology developers, with a final report and action plan expected later this year. The work will be divided into three streams: strategy, technology, and policy — each focused on practical reforms.
The Taskforce’s launch comes at a time of growing debate around the future of work, algorithmic hiring, and widening inequality in access to employment. Organisers say this is a chance to “reset the hiring system” in a way that works for everyone.
Diversity Dashboard Newsroom