Pre-Employment
Background Checks
for UK Employers

UK pre-employment background check services for employers — DBS checks, criminal record checks, employment history verification, right to work checks and more. GDPR-compliant. No setup fees. Instant onboarding.

Trusted by 6,000+ organisations worldwide for pre-employment screening.

UK BACKGROUND CHECK SERVICES

Our Pre-Employment Background Check Services

Choose the background checks you need — or let us build a tailored pre-employment screening package for your sector and role risk level.

Right to work checks confirm every candidate is legally authorised to work in the UK — fully documented and audit-ready. We handle digital right to work verification aligned to the latest Home Office requirements (including 2026 eVisa changes), establishing a statutory excuse against civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker for every hire.

Identity &
Right to Work Checks

We handle all three levels of DBS check — Basic, Standard and Enhanced — plus Disclosure Scotland and Access NI for Scottish and Northern Irish hires. Our criminal record checks are scoped to the role, confirmed for legal eligibility, and processed through a consent-based, ICO-aligned workflow. The most requested pre-employment background check for UK employers.

Criminal Record &
DBS Checks

Our employment history check confirms roles, dates, responsibilities and reasons for leaving — verified directly with past employers. Gap analysis included. Up to 10 years of history where required. The pre-employment check that catches what a polished CV is designed to hide. Standard for pre-employment screening UK across financial services, healthcare and professional roles.

Employment History Check & Verification

Reference Checks

Our pre-employment reference checks use a structured, role-relevant framework that surfaces actual performance, conduct and working style — in a way that informal references rarely do. Candidate consent is documented as part of the process. Available as a standalone check or as part of a full pre-employment background check package.

2026 Update
Physical BRPs and visa vignettes are fully phased out as of 25 February 2026. Non-British and non-Irish nationals must now prove status via eVisa share code through the Home Office online service. British and Irish passport holders require a certified DVS meeting GPG45. Employers missing this change face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.

Degrees, diplomas and professional certifications verified directly with the issuing institution. Confirms the qualification is genuine, the dates are accurate and the awarding body is properly accredited. An essential pre-employment check for professional, regulated and senior roles — the verification that consistently surfaces the most discrepancies.

Education Background Checks

Active registration confirmed with NMC, GMC, HCPC, SRA, FCA, GDC, GPhC and other UK regulatory bodies. Confirms the candidate is currently licensed to practise and in good standing — not just historically qualified. Essential where lapsed registration creates direct legal and liability exposure.

Professional Licence & Register Checks

Bankruptcies, insolvencies, CCJs and financial history for roles where financial integrity matters. Soft search only — does not affect the candidate's credit file. Always run under documented lawful basis, proportionate to the role.

Credit & Financial Checks

Global Sanctions &
Watchlist Screening

Cross-referenced against 7,900+ international watchlists, sanctions lists, PEP databases and regulatory enforcement bodies. A baseline expectation for financial services, legal and any high-trust role — increasingly required, not optional.

2025 Update
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 — fully in force from September 2025 — holds large organisations liable for failing to prevent fraud by anyone acting on their behalf. Sanctions screening is shifting from premium add-on to baseline expectation for regulated employers.
2025 Update
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 — fully in force from September 2025 — holds large organisations liable for failing to prevent fraud by anyone acting on their behalf. Sanctions screening is shifting from premium add-on to baseline expectation for regulated employers.

The complete statutory pre-employment background check set for schools, colleges and education settings in England — as required under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2025).Education background checks include Enhanced DBS with Barred List, prohibition from teaching check, identity, right to work check, overseas criminal record checks and full Single Central Record documentation. Safer recruitment compliance, Ofsted inspection-ready.

KCSIE Safer Recruitment Bundle

Criminal records, employment history and education verification across 150+ countries — one workflow, one report. Required under KCSIE for education candidates with overseas history. All processing UK GDPR-compliant with appropriate data transfer safeguards throughout.

International Background Checks

For HR teams, staffing agencies and recruitment firms running high volumes across multiple clients or placements. Consistent compliance standards across every check, volume pricing available, and API integration for seamless connection to your ATS or HRIS.

Bulk & High-Volume Screening

Build Your Own
Custom Checks

Not every role fits a template. Tell us the role and risk level — we’ll build the exact checks you need from 20+ type of checks. No fluff, no gaps. Ready to run instantly.

KCSIE 2025
KCSIE 2025 (effective 1 September 2025) strengthened overseas check requirements for candidates with international history, clarified DBS certificate retention rules, and tightened SCR documentation standards. Non-compliance is flagged directly in Ofsted inspections.
2025 Update
Under the FCA's Consumer Duty (fully in force July 2024), firms must demonstrate individuals in roles affecting customer outcomes meet appropriate standards of financial integrity — raising the bar for what counts as adequate pre-employment financial screening in regulated financial services.

BACKGROUND CHECK SERVICES BY SECTOR

Pre-Employment Background Checks Built for Your Sector

Every UK sector faces different regulatory requirements and risk profiles. Our pre-employment screening packages are scoped to what actually applies — no unnecessary steps, no compliance gaps.

FCA-regulated screening for Senior Managers, Certified Functions and customer-facing roles. Criminal, credit, sanctions and directorship checks under documented lawful basis — aligned to SMCR and Consumer Duty requirements.

Banking & Financial Services

Enhanced DBS with Barred List mandatory for regulated activity. NMC, GMC and HCPC register checks for licensed professionals. Covers NHS, private healthcare, care homes and domiciliary care.

Healthcare & Social Care

Full KCSIE safer recruitment background check package for schools, MAT, colleges and nurseries in England. Includes Enhanced DBS with Barred List, prohibition from teacher background check, right to work, overseas checks for school staff and Single Central Record (SCR) documentation. Ofsted inspection-ready education background checks.

Education & Early Years

Tech & Professional Services

Protect client data and business integrity for fast-hiring, remote-first teams. Employment, credential and sanctions screening for client-facing and high-access roles — without slowing down your hiring pipeline.

High-volume screening across multiple clients and sectors. Bulk pricing, API access and consistent compliance across placements.

HR, Staffing & Recruitment

Screen site workers and contractors for roles with physical access or proximity to regulated or sensitive environments.

Construction & Infrastructure

Your industry not listed?

WHY CHOOSE AVVANZ FOR UK BACKGROUND CHECKS

Multi-Award Winning
Pre-Employment Background Check Services Built for UK Employers

Gold Medal Winner for Best Background Screening Provider



2018

HR VENDORS OF THE YEAR - HUMANRESOUCES

6,000+

150+

95%

organisations

worldwide

countries

covered

verification

success rate

No setup fees, no two-week wait. Your pre-employment background check account is live and your first order placed inside ScreenGlobal — almost instantly. No onboarding friction, no upfront charges.

Up and Running Immediately

20+ background check services across EMEA, Americas and APAC. Scope, source, turnaround time and price visible upfront on every single check — no surprises, no separate workflows for international background checks.

150+ Countries, One Workflow

Unlimited source attempts while most background check providers stop at 3–5. Under 5% Unable To Verify rate across all pre-employment screening checks — you get results, not excuses.

95%+ Verification Success Rate

Every background check service includes consultancy, unlimited platform access, candidate chasing, indemnity insurance and business reporting. One transparent price per check — no hidden extras, ever.

One Price, Everything You Need Included

6,000+ organisations trust Avvanz for pre-employment background checks

and employment screening — from single DBS checks to enterprise-scale

pre-employment screening programmes across 150+ countries.

Our multi-award-winning ScreenGlobal platform and dedicated UK team treat every check as if it's the only one running that day.

PARTNERS & INTEGRATIONS

Work With the Tools
You Already Use

Our latest ScreenGlobal 3.0 connects with your existing HR stack — no manual data entry, no switching between platforms.

OUR PROCESS

How Our Pre-Employment Background Check Process Works

Three steps. No admin burden. No compliance guesswork. Built for UK employers running pre-employment checks at any scale.

1.

2.

3.

Tell us who you're hiring

Share the candidate details and role requirements. We confirm the right pre-employment background checks — proportionate to the role, legally scoped to UK requirements and your sector's regulatory obligations.

We establish lawful basis, handle candidate documentation and run your full pre-employment screening — through DBS, IDSP and authoritative employment sources. Your candidates receive clear, professional communication throughout.

Screening begins

Your Report is Delivered

Your background check report is delivered. Clear, structured, ICO audit-ready background check reports land in your ScreenGlobal dashboard — ready for fast hiring decisions, HR records and ROPA compliance documentation.

TURNAROUND TIMES

Basic DBS Check

Right to Work

Employment Verfication

Standard / Enhanced DBS Check

Make Better Hiring Decisions Today.

Start Your Pre-Employment Background Checks Today

We tailor background check services to your sector, role risk level and volume. No setup fees. No lock-in contracts. Results from same day.

FAQ

Pre-Employment Background Check FAQs for UK Employers

What pre-employment background checks are legally required for UK employers?
Right to work checks are legally required for every hire in the UK — failing to conduct a right to work check correctly can result in civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker. DBS checks are legally required for roles involving regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. For all other pre-employment checks — employment history verification, education, credit, references — there is no blanket legal requirement, but they are strongly recommended as part of a proportionate, lawful pre-employment screening process under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
How long does a pre-employment background check and pre-employment screening take in the UK?
Turnaround depends on the background check services ordered. Right to work and identity checks can be completed the same day. Basic DBS checks typically return within 24–48 hours. Standard and Enhanced DBS checks take 2–5 business days on average. Employment history checks and education verification typically take 2–5 business days. International background checks vary by country but are managed through a single workflow with regular status updates — no chasing required from your team.
Do candidates need to consent to a pre-employment background check?
Yes — candidates must be informed about what pre-employment checks are being conducted, the lawful basis for processing their data, and how long their data will be retained. Under UK GDPR, consent alone is rarely a sufficient lawful basis in a recruitment context — the ICO recommends using legitimate interests or legal obligation instead. Our pre-employment screening workflow captures all necessary documentation automatically, so your compliance position is airtight from the start.
What is the difference between a Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS check?
A Basic DBS check shows unspent convictions only and is available for any role. A Standard DBS check shows both spent and unspent convictions, cautions and reprimands — only available for legally eligible roles. An Enhanced DBS check adds relevant police intelligence and is required for roles working with children or vulnerable adults. An Enhanced DBS with Barred List additionally confirms whether an individual is on the Children's or Adults' Barred List — mandatory for regulated activity. We confirm the correct level before any pre-employment background check is ordered.
Have right to work rules changed in 2026?
Yes — significantly. From 25 February 2026, physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and visa vignettes are no longer valid for right to work checks. Non-British and non-Irish nationals must now demonstrate their status via an eVisa share code through the Home Office online service. British and Irish passport holders must be verified through an accredited Identity Service Provider (IDSP) certified to the GPG45 standard. Employers who continue using old physical document processes are no longer compliant and risk civil penalties.
Can you screen background checks on candidates with overseas history?
Yes. We support international background checks across 150+ countries — criminal records, employment history and education verification. This is a requirement under KCSIE 2025 for education candidates with international history, and best practice for any regulated role where a candidate has lived or worked abroad for 12 months or more. All international processing is managed within a UK GDPR-compliant framework with appropriate data transfer safeguards. Results are delivered in a single consolidated report alongside UK checks.
Are background checks on contractors and agency workers legal in the UK?
Yes — and increasingly standard practice. Right to work checks are legally required for contractors and agency workers just as they are for employees. DBS checks are required for contractors in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults regardless of employment classification. Other checks — employment history, credentials, financial — can be conducted on contractors where there is a legitimate business reason, proportionate to the role and documented under UK GDPR lawful basis.
How do you handle UK GDPR compliance during background screening?
Every check we run is processed under a documented UK GDPR lawful basis — typically legitimate interests or legal obligation, not consent. Criminal offence data is processed under a Schedule 1 DPA 2018 condition, as required by the ICO. We maintain a Criminal Offence Data Policy, support your Record of Processing Activities (ROPA) obligations, and apply data minimisation throughout — collecting and retaining only what is necessary for the checks ordered. Every report includes documentation structured for ICO, Ofsted and FCA audit requirements.

Avvanz is a multi-award-winning global provider of employment background checks, compliance screening, and employee training solutions. With a strong footprint across Asia, the Americas, and EMEA, the company leverages advanced and disruptive technologies to help more than 6,000 organisations reduce people-related risks and improve hiring accuracy.

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