Leading with Inclusive Recruitment – Our Partnership with SRAG

The Overview

With increasing demand for socially responsible recruitment, we recognised the need to go beyond intention and embed real change into our strategy. Like many businesses, we wanted to support individuals facing barriers to work, whether due to background, circumstance, or systemic challenges. But with countless initiatives in the social value space, it was difficult to find a clear, focused path that was practical, scalable, and impactful. We needed a framework that would guide our efforts, bring our teams together, and drive tangible outcomes across our recruitment and service delivery.

The Challenge

With increasing demand for socially responsible recruitment, we recognised the need to go beyond intention and embed real change into our strategy. Like many businesses, we wanted to support individuals facing barriers to work, whether due to background, circumstance, or systemic challenges. But with countless initiatives in the social value space, it was difficult to find a clear, focused path that was practical, scalable, and impactful. We needed a framework that would guide our efforts, bring our teams together, and drive tangible outcomes across our recruitment and service delivery.

The Approach

Our partnership with the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group (SRAG) provided exactly that. Using their Chartermark framework, we aligned our hiring practices with inclusive, values-led goals. This structured pathway helped us move from Silver to Gold Chartermark status, focusing on measurable impact rather than surface-level change. Initiatives included prison visits, exploring ROTL opportunities, hosting Modern Slavery awareness sessions, and shifting procurement toward social enterprises. We also collaborated with partners such as ANTZ, Ride Tandem, and Ethstat, deepening our commitment to equity, accessibility, and meaningful employment pathways.

The Impact

Since adopting the SRAG framework, we’ve embedded social value into every part of our recruitment model. We’ve increased access to employment for underrepresented groups and built greater internal alignment around our people-first values. Our clients have welcomed this approach, recognising the added value it brings to their ESG objectives and community engagement.

Most importantly, we’ve created new opportunities for individuals who may otherwise have been excluded from the workforce. As we work towards SRAG Ambassador status and launch our Social Value Strategy for 2025, our mission remains clear: to lead with purpose, and recruit with impact.