A limited number of UK employers are being offered free, hands-on support to trial Open Hiring — a recruitment approach that removes CVs, interviews and background checks from the hiring process, giving the job to the first person who applies and has the legal right to work in the UK.

Open Hiring UK, a joint initiative between UK social enterprise Social Entrepreneur Place and the Dutch Start Foundation, is launching publicly at the Inclusive Workplace Conference in Birmingham next week. The project is offering free implementation support to a small cohort of employers willing to open up at least one role using the Open Hiring approach, with expert HR and employment law guidance provided by The Number 1 HR Consultancy.

Open Hiring was created in 1982 at Greyston Bakery in New York, where it has been operating successfully for over forty years. Start Foundation brought the model to the Netherlands in 2018, where it now has an eight-year track record with employers across retail, logistics, hospitality and the public sector. When a major UK retailer trialled the approach, 89% of managers said they would do it again.

The model is designed for entry-level and operational roles where traditional recruitment creates unnecessary barriers. Independent Dutch research shows that 63% of employers who adopt Open Hiring do so to address staff shortages, and the approach consistently delivers reductions in recruitment costs and time-to-hire.

Karen Leigh Anderson, who leads the Open Hiring UK project, said:

"Most employers know their recruitment process is slow, expensive and excludes good people. Open Hiring strips that process back to what actually matters: can you do the job, and do you want it? We're looking for employers who are willing to try something different — and we'll support them every step of the way, completely free of charge."

Charlotte Johns, Managing Director of The Number 1 HR Consultancy and Advisor Partner to the project, said:

"Employers often worry that removing interviews and background checks will create legal or compliance issues. The reality is that Open Hiring is fully compatible with UK employment law. We're here to give employers the confidence that they can try this approach without risk."

Jos Verhoeven, Director of Start Foundation, said:

"We have spent eight years proving that Open Hiring works in the Netherlands. Major employers across retail, logistics and the public sector have adopted it — and the evidence shows it reduces costs, fills vacancies faster, and gives opportunities to people who would otherwise be overlooked. We are delighted to partner with Social Entrepreneur Place to bring this approach to the UK."

Employers interested in joining the free pilot can register their interest at the Open Hiring UK stand at the Inclusive Workplace Conference (Stand 179) or visit openhiring.uk.

ENDS