UNITED KINGDOM — The UK Ministry of Justice held a conference bringing together HR leaders, employers and inclusion specialists to address a confidence gap among employers in hiring people with criminal convictions. The gathering followed a YouGov poll of 565 HR decision-makers which found that more than a third had faced pushback against equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives over the past year.

The conference will examine concerns around risk, disclosure, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and workplace integration. Ministry of Justice evidence shows employment is the strongest protective factor against reoffending, which costs the UK economy an estimated £18 billion to £23 billion annually.

Working Chance, a charity that supports women with convictions into employment, warned that scaling back inclusive hiring risked entrenching social exclusion and undermining efforts to reduce reoffending. The charity's latest data shows that 58% of HR leaders do not feel confident recruiting and supporting people with convictions.

"If this trend continues, then access to work is likely to become increasingly difficult for people who already face significant barriers to employment, including those with criminal convictions," Working Chance chief executive Natasha Finlayson said. "When done well, inclusive hiring is not only good for individuals and their families, but also for businesses, communities and the economy," she added.

A charity that organises internships for Black and minority ethnic candidates has been taken to court by an influencer for not offering equivalent schemes for white applicants. Some employers and charities in the UK have withdrawn support from targeted inclusion schemes in anticipation of potential copycat legal cases.

The UK government estimates that about one in four working-age adults have some form of criminal record, a broad measure that includes cautions and minor offences. Campaigners have long said that the DBS casts too wide a net.

Rayhana, who was supported into work by the charity, described her experience of job-seeking with a conviction. "I applied for and was provisionally offered five jobs, all of which were taken away the moment the DBS certificate came back and the employer found out about my conviction," she said. Her conviction came during a period of poor mental health after losing her job.

"I don't want to shrink any more, I want to be a force for good," Rayhana said.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said, "Employment is key in reducing reoffending, which costs the UK economy billions every year. Evidence consistently shows that businesses who employ people with convictions benefit from a loyal, skilled and committed workforce. Supporting access to work not only helps individuals to rebuild their lives, but also delivers wider benefits for businesses, communities and the economy as a whole."