26th Annual Employee Vetting and Screening Conference
Thursday 1 October, 2026 | London Novotel West | £295
09:00 – 09:30 | Registration & Networking
09:30 – 09:35 | Chair’s Welcome & Opening Remarks
09:35 – 10:20 | Opening Keynote with HireRight
Caroline Smith | Deputy General Counsel, HireRight
Digital Identity Verification: Where We Are and What Employers Need to Do Now
The GOV.UK digital identity programme is moving faster than most employers realise. This keynote sets the scene for the day, covering the government’s current timeline for secure digital verification, what the shift means for employment screening workflows, and what practical steps employers should be taking now, regardless of where they currently sit in the manual-to-digital transition.
- The UK digital identity framework: current status and what is confirmed for 2026
- How digital ID verification will change right-to-work and pre-employment screening in practice
- What employer readiness actually means: systems, processes and staff capability
- The compliance gap: managing the period between now and full digital rollout
10:20 – 11:05 | Plenary Session
Fudia Smartt | Partner, Expert Employment Lawyer, Spencer West
The Legal Landscape in 2026: Employment Rights, AI Regulation and Right to Work
A fast-moving session covering the legislative and regulatory changes with the most direct impact on vetting and screening practice, including audience Q&A.
- Right to work in full: settled status edge cases, ETA requirements, domestic obligations and ongoing monitoring
- Employment Rights Act 2025: what the extended unfair dismissal provisions mean for probationary period screening
- AI regulation and automated decision-making: UK GDPR, the EU AI Act, and what applies to UK employers now
- Social media screening: where the legal boundaries currently sit
- Fair chance hiring: Rehabilitation of Offenders Act obligations and emerging employer practice
30 minutes presentation, 15 minutes audience Q&A.
11:05 – 11:35 | Networking Break
11:35 – 12:15 | Case Study: Veremark
Anshuman Singh | CEO, HGS
Transforming the traditional vetting model to protect from modern risk
- What changed, why it was necessary, and how to build stakeholder buy-in.
- Separating the reality from the hype when deploying technology at scale.
- Insights from early adoption experiences and what it means for the future of candidate data.
- Navigating the practical considerations and legal frameworks of continuous monitoring.
- Strategies for embedding security and compliance across a global organisation.
- A clear presentation of time savings, cost reduction, and quality improvements.
Includes a 5-minute integrated demonstration showcasing the Veremark platform capabilities that enabled this transformation.
12:15 – 13:00 | Plenary Session
Jacqueline Watts | Director/Head of Commercial Law at AllIn1 Advisory Ltd
Anton Watson | Director at Background Check Advisory
AI in Vetting: Separating Hype from Reality
AI is being sold hard to the screening sector. This session gives a grounded, practical assessment of where it genuinely adds value, where it falls short, and what compliance obligations apply when automated tools are used in hiring decisions.
- What AI can reliably do in screening today, and what remains experimental
- Why so many AI screening pilots fail to move beyond proof of concept
- The 90-day implementation reality: what moving from pilot to production actually involves
- UK GDPR and the EU AI Act: your legal obligations for automated decision-making
- Workforce trust and adoption: why end-user involvement determines whether tools succeed
- Do you actually need to overhaul your data infrastructure? An honest answer
Interactive element: live audience polling on AI adoption and trust, open Q&A.
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch & Exhibition
14:00 – 14:10 | Client Case Study: The Use Case
Martin Hardy | Executive Director, SP Index and right2socials.co.uk
The Great Social Media Screening Debate: Risks, Privacy & The Future of Employee Vetting
Why organisations are increasingly introducing online screening programmes, how they balance safeguarding with candidate privacy, and what constitutes a legally defensible approach.
14:00 – 14:45 | Interactive Expert Panel
Led by Ashleigh-Paige Yarde | Chief Compliance Officer, SP Index and right2socials.co.uk
Roger Clements | Managing Director, Matrix Security Watchdog
An interactive Q&A putting supplier frameworks directly to the test. Expect live polling and challenging debate covering:
The Technology Trap: Automated AI scraping vs. human-led review – which approach is truly more legally defensible and accurate?
The Privacy Boundary: Where to draw the line between “publicly available data” and an invasion of a candidate’s privacy.
The Compliance Challenge: Navigating candidate consent, UK GDPR, and avoiding the collection of protected characteristics.
Subjectivity vs Risk: Distinguishing a genuine risk to an organisation from a cultural difference or personal opinion.
The Future of Vetting: How AI and evolving regulation will shape screening over the next five years.
14:45-15:30 | Panel
Kadijia Mahabeer | Interim Head of People Services, St John & St Elizabeth Hospital
Anneka Sheikh | Senior Screening & Vetting Advisor, Baringa Partners
Kev Sambor | Head of Vetting and Onboarding, Serco
One Year On: Vetting, Privacy and Digital ID in Practice
Three practitioners share an honest update on what’s actually changed on the ground over the past twelve months, and what they’d do differently.
- What’s moved at Serco and Baringa since last year’s talks, through the lens of digital ID, shifts in privacy or practice, and the high-profile vetting stories that have been in the news
- What changed in vetting and screening practice at Nightingale Hospital in Kadijia’s last year there, and what prompted it
- The biggest challenge Kadijia is facing now at St John & St Elizabeth, and how she’s approaching it
- How digital ID verification is actually landing in practice, against what’s still paper-based or manual
- Balancing safeguarding rigour with candidate experience, given recruitment pressures on care and hospital providers
- The particular headache of vetting agency and bank staff, who often sit outside the standard onboarding route
15:30 – 16:00 Networking Break
16:00 – 16:45 Expert Panel
Raj Johal | Senior Public Sector Leader
joined by our experts from throughout the day
Your Vetting Challenges, Answered
An audience-led session in which delegates put their specific challenges to the day’s expert speakers. Questions can be submitted throughout the day or raised live.
- Questions submitted in advance and during the day addressed by the full panel
- Live problem-solving on real scenarios from the room
- Interactive polling to surface shared challenges and test the room’s instincts
- Practical, applicable guidance, not generic advice
16:45 – 17:30 Closing Keynote & Panel
David Crack | Director, CDD Services
Ellery Shentall | Head of Supplementary Code Development, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
2026 and Beyond: Digital Identity, AI and the Future of Continuous Verification
Where is employment screening heading, and how much of it is genuinely imminent versus still aspirational? This closing session separates the near-term from the longer-range and ends the day with a clear-eyed view of what to plan for and when.
- The EUDI Wallet: what UK employers need to prepare for and by when
- Career credentials and portable verification: how close is the mainstream reality?
- Continuous background checking and ongoing monitoring: direction of travel and current feasibility
- Blockchain for verification: honest assessment of where it stands
- AI’s responsible future in screening: efficiency, bias risk and regulatory direction
Interactive element: live polling on adoption timelines and delegate concerns.
17:30 – 18:30 Networking Reception
Join us for drinks to continue the conversations from the day, as well as celebrate 30 years of BFI. Included in your delegate fee.
Caroline Smith
Deputy General Counsel,
HireRight
HireRight
09:35 | Opening Keynote
Digital Identity Verification: Where We Are and What Employers Need to Do Now
Caroline sets the scene for the day, guiding employers through the GOV.UK digital identity programme and what is confirmed for 2026. This session unpacks practical steps for the manual-to-digital transition, shifting right-to-work workflows, and how to successfully manage the compliance gap.
(Also appearing on the 16:45 Closing Keynote Panel)
Full Bio Digital Identity Verification: Where We Are and What Employers Need to Do Now
Caroline sets the scene for the day, guiding employers through the GOV.UK digital identity programme and what is confirmed for 2026. This session unpacks practical steps for the manual-to-digital transition, shifting right-to-work workflows, and how to successfully manage the compliance gap.
(Also appearing on the 16:45 Closing Keynote Panel)
Fudia Smartt
Partner, Expert Employment Lawyer, Spencer West
10:20 – Panel Discussion
The Legal Landscape in 2026: Employment Rights, AI Regulation and Right to Work
Fudia provides a fast-moving update on the regulatory changes directly impacting vetting practice. Expect crucial legal insights into the Employment Rights Act 2025, UK GDPR and automated decision-making, social media boundaries, and navigating right-to-work edge cases.
(Also appearing on the 16:00 Expert Panel Q&A)
Full Bio The Legal Landscape in 2026: Employment Rights, AI Regulation and Right to Work
Fudia provides a fast-moving update on the regulatory changes directly impacting vetting practice. Expect crucial legal insights into the Employment Rights Act 2025, UK GDPR and automated decision-making, social media boundaries, and navigating right-to-work edge cases.
(Also appearing on the 16:00 Expert Panel Q&A)
Anshuman Singh
CEO,
HGS
HGS
11:35 – Veremark Case Study
Transforming the Traditional Vetting Model
Anshuman shares a real-world journey of deploying vetting technology at scale. Discover how to separate AI hype from reality, navigate the legalities of continuous monitoring, and drive significant time and cost savings across a global organisation.
(Includes a 5-minute platform demonstration)
Full Bio Transforming the Traditional Vetting Model
Anshuman shares a real-world journey of deploying vetting technology at scale. Discover how to separate AI hype from reality, navigate the legalities of continuous monitoring, and drive significant time and cost savings across a global organisation.
(Includes a 5-minute platform demonstration)
Jacqueline Watts
Director/Head of Commercial Law, AllIn1 Advisory Ltd
12:15 – 13:00 | Plenary Session
AI in Vetting: Separating Hype from Reality
AI is being sold hard to the screening sector. This session gives a grounded, practical assessment of where it genuinely adds value, where it falls short, and what compliance obligations apply when automated tools are used in hiring decisions.
Full Bio AI in Vetting: Separating Hype from Reality
AI is being sold hard to the screening sector. This session gives a grounded, practical assessment of where it genuinely adds value, where it falls short, and what compliance obligations apply when automated tools are used in hiring decisions.
Anton Watson
Director,
Background Check Advisory
Background Check Advisory
12:15 – 13:00 | Plenary Session
AI in Vetting: Separating Hype from Reality
AI is being sold hard to the screening sector. This session gives a grounded, practical assessment of where it genuinely adds value, where it falls short, and what compliance obligations apply when automated tools are used in hiring decisions.
Full Bio AI in Vetting: Separating Hype from Reality
AI is being sold hard to the screening sector. This session gives a grounded, practical assessment of where it genuinely adds value, where it falls short, and what compliance obligations apply when automated tools are used in hiring decisions.
Martin Hardy
Executive Director, SP Index
14:00 – Client Case Study: The Use Case
The Great Social Media Screening Debate: Risks, Privacy & The Future of Employee Vetting
Martin Hardy, Executive Director at SP Index and right2socials.co.uk, unpacks why organisations are increasingly introducing online screening programmes, how they balance safeguarding with candidate privacy, and what constitutes a legally defensible approach.
(Also appearing on the 14:00 Interactive Expert Panel Q&A)
Full Bio The Great Social Media Screening Debate: Risks, Privacy & The Future of Employee Vetting
Martin Hardy, Executive Director at SP Index and right2socials.co.uk, unpacks why organisations are increasingly introducing online screening programmes, how they balance safeguarding with candidate privacy, and what constitutes a legally defensible approach.
(Also appearing on the 14:00 Interactive Expert Panel Q&A)
Ashleigh-Paige Yarde
Chief Compliance Officer, SP Index
14:00 – Social Media Screening Debate
Ethics, Legality & Supplier Perspectives
Ashleigh-Paige tackles the legal and ethical hurdles of social media vetting. Discover the reality of AI versus human-led reviews, learn how to avoid collecting protected characteristics, and build a legally defensible screening framework.
(Also appearing on the 16:00 Expert Panel Q&A)
Full Bio Ethics, Legality & Supplier Perspectives
Ashleigh-Paige tackles the legal and ethical hurdles of social media vetting. Discover the reality of AI versus human-led reviews, learn how to avoid collecting protected characteristics, and build a legally defensible screening framework.
(Also appearing on the 16:00 Expert Panel Q&A)
Roger Clements
Managing Director, Matrix Security Watchdog
14:00 – Social Media Screening Debate
Ethics, Legality & Supplier Perspectives
Roger tackles the complexities of social media screening in an interactive debate on ethics, legality, and supplier frameworks. He will explore the balance between AI automation and human review, navigate the boundaries of candidate privacy and UK GDPR compliance, and discuss how evolving regulations will shape the future of vetting.
Full Bio Ethics, Legality & Supplier Perspectives
Roger tackles the complexities of social media screening in an interactive debate on ethics, legality, and supplier frameworks. He will explore the balance between AI automation and human review, navigate the boundaries of candidate privacy and UK GDPR compliance, and discuss how evolving regulations will shape the future of vetting.
Kadijia Mahabeer
Interim Head of People services,
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital
14:45 – Panel
One Year On: Vetting, Privacy and Digital ID in Practice
Kadijia, Kev and Anneka return to the stage with an honest, practitioner-led update on what's actually changed at Nightingale, St John & St Elizabeth, Serco and Baringa over the past twelve months. Expect candid reflection on digital ID, shifting privacy practice, the vetting stories that made headlines, and what they'd each do differently.
Full Bio One Year On: Vetting, Privacy and Digital ID in Practice
Kadijia, Kev and Anneka return to the stage with an honest, practitioner-led update on what's actually changed at Nightingale, St John & St Elizabeth, Serco and Baringa over the past twelve months. Expect candid reflection on digital ID, shifting privacy practice, the vetting stories that made headlines, and what they'd each do differently.
Kev Sambor
Head of Vetting and Onboarding,
Serco
Serco
14:45 – Panel
One Year On: Vetting, Privacy and Digital ID in Practice
Kev reflects on the shifts at Serco over the past twelve months, sharing honest insights into the realities of rolling out digital ID across complex corporate supply chains. He will discuss balancing stringent security demands with candidate experience, and tackle the unique bottlenecks of vetting high-volume contingent workforces who sit outside standard onboarding routes.
Full Bio One Year On: Vetting, Privacy and Digital ID in Practice
Kev reflects on the shifts at Serco over the past twelve months, sharing honest insights into the realities of rolling out digital ID across complex corporate supply chains. He will discuss balancing stringent security demands with candidate experience, and tackle the unique bottlenecks of vetting high-volume contingent workforces who sit outside standard onboarding routes.
Anneka Sheikh
Senior Screening & Vetting Advisor,
Baringa Partners
Baringa Partners
14:45 – Panel
One Year On: Vetting, Privacy and Digital ID in Practice
Anneka, Kadijia and Kev return to the stage with an honest, practitioner-led update on what's actually changed at Baringa, St John & St Elizabeth and Serco over the past twelve months. Expect candid reflection on digital ID, shifting privacy practice, the vetting stories that made headlines, and what they'd each do differently.
Full Bio One Year On: Vetting, Privacy and Digital ID in Practice
Anneka, Kadijia and Kev return to the stage with an honest, practitioner-led update on what's actually changed at Baringa, St John & St Elizabeth and Serco over the past twelve months. Expect candid reflection on digital ID, shifting privacy practice, the vetting stories that made headlines, and what they'd each do differently.
Raj Johal
Senior Public Sector Leader
16:00 – 16:45 Expert Panel
Your Vetting Challenges, Answered
An audience-led session in which delegates put their specific challenges to the day’s expert speakers. Questions can be submitted throughout the day or raised live.
Full Bio Your Vetting Challenges, Answered
An audience-led session in which delegates put their specific challenges to the day’s expert speakers. Questions can be submitted throughout the day or raised live.
David Crack
Director,
CDD Services
CDD Services
16:45 – Closing Keynote & Panel
026 and Beyond: Digital Identity, AI and the Future of Continuous Verification
David closes the day by separating the near-term from the aspirational, from the EUDI Wallet and portable credentials to continuous background checking and AI's responsible role in screening. A clear-eyed view of what to actually plan for, and when.
Full Bio 026 and Beyond: Digital Identity, AI and the Future of Continuous Verification
David closes the day by separating the near-term from the aspirational, from the EUDI Wallet and portable credentials to continuous background checking and AI's responsible role in screening. A clear-eyed view of what to actually plan for, and when.
Ellery Shantall
Head of Supplementary Code Development,
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
16:45 – Closing Keynote & Panel
026 and Beyond: Digital Identity, AI and the Future of Continuous Verification
Ellery closes the day by separating the near-term from the aspirational, from what UK employers need to prepare for with the EUDI Wallet to the practical realities of continuous background checking and blockchain. A clear-eyed view of what to actually plan for, and when—complete with live polling on delegate concerns and adoption timelines.
Full Bio 026 and Beyond: Digital Identity, AI and the Future of Continuous Verification
Ellery closes the day by separating the near-term from the aspirational, from what UK employers need to prepare for with the EUDI Wallet to the practical realities of continuous background checking and blockchain. A clear-eyed view of what to actually plan for, and when—complete with live polling on delegate concerns and adoption timelines.
Navigate the New Legal Reality
With major pieces of legislation like the Employment Rights Act 2025 rolling out and reshaping probationary periods, the compliance margin for error has never been tighter. Get authoritative, definitive clarity on your direct legal obligations so your organisation stays fully protected against claims.
AI Hype from Screening Reality
The screening sector is flooded with promises of AI automation. Cut through the vendor marketing and discover the practical reality of what AI can securely deliver today, how to manage UK GDPR compliance for automated decision-making, and why most tech pilots fail.
Benchmarked Operational Frameworks
Move beyond generic advice. Take away battle-tested frameworks from both private and public sector case studies - including overhauls in FTSE 100 and public council environments. Learn how to successfully balance lightning-fast surge hiring with meticulous DBS and digital ID verification.
HR & Talent Acquisition
- HR Directors & Managers
- Recruitment & Resourcing Professionals
- Global Mobility Professionals
Compliance, Legal & Risk
- Legal & Compliance Officers
- Risk Management Professionals
- Directors & Managers responsible for Immigration & Right to Work Checks
Operations & Vetting Specialists
- Vetting & Screening Specialists
- Security Managers
- Administration & Operations Managers
*In short, anyone with responsibility for pre-employment vetting and screening within their organisation.
Platinum Sponsor
HireRight is a leading global provider of workforce risk management and compliance solutions, helping organisations build trusted workforces through background screening, verification, identity, monitoring, and health and drug screening services.
Supporting approximately 34,000 customers worldwide, HireRight combines global expertise with technology-driven solutions that integrate seamlessly with leading human capital management systems, helping organisations streamline hiring, onboarding and workforce management processes.
In 2024, HireRight screened more than 60 million job applicants, employees and contractors and processed over 120 million screens globally.
With operations across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, HireRight helps organisations manage workforce risk, support compliance and hire with confidence in an increasingly complex global environment.
For more information, visit www.HireRight.com
Gold Sponsors
Veremark is a global background screening and vetting provider helping organisations hire and manage people with greater confidence, speed, and compliance. Founded in 2018, we specialise in digital pre-employment screening, verifying key candidate information, global expertise in hiring across more than 180 countries, and most recently in whistleblowing compliance.
We help organisations hire with confidence and operate with integrity through two powerful solutions: global pre-employment background screening and a secure whistleblowing channel. Together, they give HR and compliance teams the tools they need to build trusted, resilient workforces from the point of hire and beyond.
Used by some of the world’s most respected brands, Veremark is designed for scale and simplicity, offering API integrations with leading HR systems, flexible pay-as-you-go pricing, and global coverage to support organisations of all sizes.
By smoothing onboarding processes and strengthening trust throughout the employee lifecycle, Veremark helps organisations create workforces they can rely on with confidence. For more information visit www.veremark.com.
Silver Sponsors
SP Index provided expert social media checks for your brand safety and success.
What are Social Media Checks? Their tailored checks help employers identify potential online risks by thoroughly screening social media profiles, ensuring a safer hiring process.
They specialise in providing online background screening for new and existing staff, collaborating with organisations of all sizes and industries, including leading players in the Background Screening sector.
Join SP Index today and gain access to their impressive suite of Online Checks, powered by advanced technology and unbiased evaluation.
Fivecast delivers open-source intelligence solutions built for clarity, powered by AI, and trusted to surface what matters. Our technology platform cuts through digital noise across the surface, deep, and dark web to help those protecting nations, borders, businesses, and communities uncover critical insights before risk becomes reality.
Trusted by 40+ government agencies, 30+ leading police departments, 10+ Fortune 50 companies, and 10+ international governments, Fivecast turns billions of data points into actionable intelligence.
Security, privacy, and ethics sit at the heart of everything we build. Fivecast is formally accredited (Australian Government DISP, US NIST 800-171, ISO 27001, UK Cyber Essentials Plus), runs on single-tenant cloud infrastructure, and is committed to responsible, explainable AI that enhances human decision-making.
Supporters
Standard Rate - End User
Please choose this rate if you are an industry professional £ 295
00
+VAT- Full-day access
- Lunch & refreshments
- Post-event toolkit
- Networking reception
Supplier Rate
Please choose this rate if you are an industry supplier £ 595
00
+VAT- Full-day access
- Lunch & refreshments
- Networking reception
Venue: Novotel London West,
1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London, W6 8DR
The hotel is just a 3 minute walk from Hammersmith Underground Station with less than 20 minutes travel from Central London and conveniently located to Heathrow with direct transport links.
Hammersmith London Underground station operates on the Hammersmith & City line and Piccadilly line. The Circle line station, Hammersmith Broadway, is just as close and provides step-free access and both these stations are located in Travelcard Zone 2.
About
The bar for compliance has never been higher. With the Employment Rights Act 2025 now in force, vetting failures during the probationary period carry unprecedented legal and financial risks. Alongside the rapid rollout of GOV.UK digital identity programmes, rising recruitment fraud, and the newly live EU AI Act, the screening landscape is shifting faster than ever.
Yet, a critical vulnerability remains: the majority of employers still rely on outdated, manual processes and lack confidence that their procedures would withstand regulatory scrutiny.
This flagship one-day conference provides the practical intelligence and strategic insight needed to close those gaps. Join HR, Recruitment, Resourcing, Talent, Vetting & Security, Legal & Compliance professionals from across the UK to move away from vulnerable manual administration and build resilient, future-ready screening frameworks.
Topics Covered
The Legal Landscape
Ensure your organisation stays fully protected. Get definitive clarity on your direct legal obligations surrounding the Employment Rights Act 2025, right-to-work edge cases, and changing probationary periods.
AI & Automated Screening
Cut through the vendor hype. Discover the practical reality of what AI can securely deliver today, and learn how to safely manage UK GDPR compliance when deploying automated decision-making tools.
Battle-Tested Case Studies
Move beyond generic advice. Take away operational frameworks from FTSE 100 and public sector leaders, learning how to effectively balance lightning-fast surge hiring with meticulous digital identity verification.
High-Level Peer Networking
Connect directly with cross-sector HR, security, and compliance leaders. Share benchmarking strategies, discuss complex vetting challenges, and build a lasting professional support network with peers facing the exact same operational hurdles.
Testimonials
"An incredibly well-organised and thoughtfully managed event from start to finish. The administration was wonderfully slick and efficient, complemented by excellent on-the-day hosting."
Boden
"A truly fantastic venue with lovely, attentive staff. The facilities were excellent, and the high-quality refreshments were kept flowing throughout the entire day."
Heathrow
"Great organisation and a brilliantly thought-out programme. A lovely venue paired with flawless administration made for an exceptional delegate experience."
Sainsburys