Background Checks

Pre-employment screening is a vital and often underused resource for employers. Research suggests that:-

  • 30% of candidates provide incomplete or erroneous information in employment applications
  • Approximately 5% of candidates do not disclose criminal records
  • Up to 70% of people when surveyed admit to having lied when preparing a CV and consider that failing to mention previous dismissals or disciplinary procedures is not misleading a potential new employer

The costs of employing the wrong person, both in damage to staff morale and the cost of possible employment law or other litigation, or worst of all, fraud or theft, considerably outweigh the costs of a basic peace of mind, pre-employment screening policy.

The employment market has shifted dramatically in the last decade. The UK now has a very flexible and mobile workforce and large numbers of people now change jobs far more regularly than was historically the case. Consequently, it is far more difficult to assess an individual’s longstanding employment record, including performance, loyalty, trustworthiness and absenteeism.

The advantages of pre-employment screening and/or business background checks that Blackhawk provides to its clients include, but are not limited to :-

  • Reference checks
  • Executive / consultant background check
  • Criminal / medical record checks (consent required)
  • County Court Judgment check
  • Academic / vocational qualifications checks
  • Professional membership checks
  • Checks on gaps / missing information on CV’s
  • Identity checks
  • Driving licence check
  • Electoral roll checks
  • Companies House Directorship checks
  • Employment Tribunal checks

The vast majority of basic background checks should cause no objection or difficulty to the prospective candidate. A candidate refusing a request to co-operate (there are some checks which do not require express consent or co-operation) will normally result in reconsideration by you as to whether to proceed with them before even incurring the cost of instructing us.

In addition to the obvious advantages of thorough, professional and speedy background checks and verifications, instructing Blackhawk’s expertise saves you the significant time and resource of carrying out background checks in house. We have the experience and contacts to carry out the necessary checks on a fixed fee and time critical basis.

Please contact us either by telephone or email, by clicking the pre-employment screening link for an immediate, fixed fee, quotation.