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Talent & Skills: Are We Overlooking Talent Because of a Criminal Record?

Michelle Battista

When organisations talk about tackling skills shortages, widening talent pools, and creating more inclusive workplaces, has anyone considered people with convictions.

Did you know a quarter of the working-age population has a criminal record?

For many people who have received a conviction, employment is a crucial step towards rebuilding their lives, yet finding work can be one of the biggest barriers they face. At the same time, many employers are struggling to fill vacancies and find the skills they need.

So, it raises an interesting question: are your recruitment processes stopping you from accessing this talent? What holds you back from addressing this?  Perhaps it's concerns around risk, uncertainty about criminal record checks, a lack of internal policy, or simply not knowing where to start.

If you have recruited people with unspent convictions, what has your experience been? Has it changed your perspective?

This isn't always a straightforward area to navigate, but it's one that more organisations are beginning to explore as part of their approach to inclusion, social impact, and workforce planning.

Whether you've already taken this step, are actively considering it, or haven't thought about it before, we'd love to hear your perspective.

What would help your organisation feel more confident about taking that first step?  Please share your thoughts in the comments!


If this is something you are considering, to support your journey, CIPD have an upcoming free webinar series offering practical guidance on:

White check mark Recruiting fairly and consistently

White check mark Navigating criminal record checks

White check mark Managing risk with confidence

White check mark Developing clear policies and processes

White check mark Creating a supportive and inclusive workplace

Why not sign up and find out more!

We’ve shared the upcoming webinars, further resources and more on The CIPD Trust and how to get involved in the comments.

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  • in reply to Michelle Battista

    Yes, I think we do not value  the skill and loyalty of some/many people who've had criminal convictions. 

    I've worked with a number of ex criminals, GBH, theft, Fraud and found them all quite pleasant and honest.   They  made the wrong choices at the wrong times and in circumstances most of us never have to face.  I trusted every one of them and some were  clever, and loyal colleagues..

    I've recently read the 3 volumes of Jeffrey Archer's "Prison Diaries".   a very interesting read, about his stay in prison.   Some of his fellow inmates were extremely clever criminals who were skilled planners, organisers  and problem solvers. Some had obtained degrees whilst in prison and a couple had written books.  At least one told him he'd have no other choice of going back to crime, as he guessed that no one would employee him lawfully given his criminal record.

    If you think about the skills of someone who can plan and carry out a robbery of  a major French museum of some of its most valuable artefacts, the serious criminals are indeed very clever.  What skills are we overlooking?

    Just to balance the books though, when we lived in Eire we lived next to the most notorious self confessed murderer in Ireland.   He was well educated, articulate, self publicist who  enjoyed the attention,  he outwitted the Irish police and courts at every attempt to bring him to justice.  We only had to tell people who we lived near and everyone knew where we lived.   

    He was a clever manipulator, who was capable of extreme violence.  It was obvious in my dealings with him he had extreme difficulty in controlling his temper.  As a person I did not like him and would never employ him.