At Reed, we are proud to work alongside the Home Office in its renewed commitment to tackle illegal working across the UK. As a trusted partner in employment screening, we welcome the strengthened measures and believe they are a vital step forward in safeguarding the future world of work.
Further digitisation is the key to futureproofing right to work checks as the modern world of work continues to change at pace, and we’re excited to continue working with the Home Office to achieve this
Director of Reed Screening & non-executive with a Home Office body
Illegal working undermines fair employment practices, exposes individuals to exploitation, and creates risks for businesses and communities. The Home Office’s latest announcement reflects a growing recognition that all forms of employment whether traditional, gig-based, or part of complex supply chains, must be subject to the same level of scrutiny and accountability.
As the employment landscape continues to evolve, so too must the systems that protect it. The expansion of right to work checks to include gig economy and zero-hour contracts marks a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to promote lawful employment. It ensures that every worker, regardless of contract type or sector, is afforded the same protections and that employers are equipped to meet their legal obligations.
Keith Rosser, Director of Reed Screening and non-executive with a Home Office body said: “In 2022 we worked closely with the Home Office to launch the digital right to work scheme, being quoted alongside ministers at its official launch. It was estimated that by 2030, these efforts will have helped 25 million people secure employment quickly, remotely, and securely. Further digitisation is the key to futureproofing right to work checks as the modern world of work continues to change at pace, and we’re excited to continue working with the Home Office to achieve this.”
Reed Screening conduct over 100,000 right to work checks annually for businesses across the UK, helping employers across a number of sectors ensure compliance and integrity in their hiring processes. We continue to champion government initiatives to digitise right to work checks, recognising the importance of speed, accuracy, and resilience in today’s dynamic employment landscape.
We understand that compliance is more than a legal requirement, it’s a commitment to ethical hiring, workforce integrity, and long-term business resilience. That’s why we continue to invest in technology, partnerships, and expertise that help employers navigate change with confidence.
“I’m proud of the work the Reed Screening team is doing to drive safer, fairer hiring practices including our work chairing the criminal record checking trade body, supporting the development of hiring standards for 80% of the UK workforce, and bringing AI in hiring as a use case for the AI Regulations Private Members’ Bill,” says Keith Rosser.
Reed is committed to working collaboratively with government bodies, employers, and industry partners to ensure that every worker is protected and every employer is accountable. We believe that these strengthened measures will shape a future of work that is inclusive, transparent, and built on trust.