24th Employee Vetting & Screening Conference for Employers

Coffee and registration

Chair's welcome and opening remarks

Keith Rosser

Group Director, Reed Screening & Group Risk
REED

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Keith Rosser

Group Director, Reed Screening & Group Risk , REED

Keith founded and leads one of the largest pre-employment vetting businesses in the UK, Reed Screening, part of the family-owned recruitment company of the same name. Keith also sits on the board of two industry trade associations and chairs a Metropolitan Police founded Charity, SAFERjobs, an organisation protecting and advising over 2m job seekers. SAFERjobs were endorsed in the UK's first Labour Market Strategy commissioned by No 10 and published in May 2018. Keith was recently appointed to the Ministerial Advisory Panel for UK Government on the Matthew Taylor Review of Modern Employment Practices and advises UK GOV on labour market strategy. Keith was also on the Equality in Recruitment committee headed by then UK Prime Minister David Cameron, and advised on Ban the Box for UK Government led by then Secretary of State for Justice Michael Gove. Keith is a Committee Member of ECHO, which is a Home Office body advising on current and future legislation around right to work. Keith is a Non-Executive Board Member at Glasgow Clyde College and a Trustee of a grant-making charity which has awarded over £15m in grants. Keith has an MBA from Aston Business School and is currently completing his PhD in Business Enterprise. He was awarded a Home Office Commendation Award for services to recruitment in 2016 and was recognised by the Queen for services to tackling labour market abuse in 2018.

OPENING ADDRESS: SCREENING FOR THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Keith Rosser

Group Director, Reed Screening & Group Risk
REED

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Keith Rosser

Group Director, Reed Screening & Group Risk , REED

Keith founded and leads one of the largest pre-employment vetting businesses in the UK, Reed Screening, part of the family-owned recruitment company of the same name. Keith also sits on the board of two industry trade associations and chairs a Metropolitan Police founded Charity, SAFERjobs, an organisation protecting and advising over 2m job seekers. SAFERjobs were endorsed in the UK's first Labour Market Strategy commissioned by No 10 and published in May 2018. Keith was recently appointed to the Ministerial Advisory Panel for UK Government on the Matthew Taylor Review of Modern Employment Practices and advises UK GOV on labour market strategy. Keith was also on the Equality in Recruitment committee headed by then UK Prime Minister David Cameron, and advised on Ban the Box for UK Government led by then Secretary of State for Justice Michael Gove. Keith is a Committee Member of ECHO, which is a Home Office body advising on current and future legislation around right to work. Keith is a Non-Executive Board Member at Glasgow Clyde College and a Trustee of a grant-making charity which has awarded over £15m in grants. Keith has an MBA from Aston Business School and is currently completing his PhD in Business Enterprise. He was awarded a Home Office Commendation Award for services to recruitment in 2016 and was recognised by the Queen for services to tackling labour market abuse in 2018.

• Vetting and screening: an introduction
• Who and why to vet in the Modern Labour Market
• UK GOV policy update
• New developments and concepts for the Digital Age
• Online vs Offline screening
• Human-centred screening during technology-driven change

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: GOVERNMENT CHANGES AND INITIATIVES

Tom Hadley

Business Coach & International Workforce Consultant
Hadleys Comment

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Tom Hadley

Business Coach & International Workforce Consultant , Hadleys Comment

Tom is an independent consultant and business coach specialising in high-impact strategic communication and workforce issues. Over the last twenty years, Tom has worked with global employers, international institutions, government ministers and two of the UK’s leading business organisations. He reaches into this to provide training and consultancy services in areas such employer brand, leadership, reputation management, research-led campaigning, employee engagement, public speaking and media training. Tom is the author of a number of White Papers and research reports on the evolving world of work and is a regular keynote speaker and media spokesperson. Campaigning activities have focused on Covid-19 business support measures, preparing for Brexit, promoting the positive role of business in society and making change happen on equality and inclusion. During his time as Campaigns Director at the REC, Tom also established the Future of Jobs Observatory to pre-empt future skills needs and the implications of AI adoption. His current work with the International Labour Organization (ILO) involves delivering advocacy training to business bodies from around the world and bespoke support in areas such as evidence-based advocacy and crisis management. Over the course of his career, Tom has been a representative on over a dozen government forums and served on the European board of the World Employment Confederation. He has a Masters in International and European Law from Assas University in Paris and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). He is a qualified rugby coach and an unrepentant aficionado of 1980s French pop.

• Vetting & recruiting in a post-Brexit landscape: the big picture
• Future proofing your vetting policy: what plans do you need to make now?
• Specific challenges
• Home Office best practice in RTW

LEGAL

Victoria Northedge

Associate Solicitor - Employment & Immigration
Eversheds Sutherland

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Victoria Northedge

Associate Solicitor - Employment & Immigration , Eversheds Sutherland

Victoria is an associate solicitor at Eversheds Sutherland, specialising in immigration and employment law. Victoria provides immigration advice to employers on the prevention of illegal working, applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK and all areas of compliance with the Immigration Rules from a Tier 4, Tier 2, Tier 5 and Right to Work perspective. From an employment law perspective, Victoria advises on a range of issues including redundancy, employee severance, discrimination, and performance and absence management. Victoria also routinely advises employers in relation to employment tribunal claims and the negotiation of settlement agreements.

• RTW checks – the legal requirements
• Tier 2 – preventing discrimination
• Pre-employment checks – the legal do’s and don’ts
• Applicable legal consent: what do you need?
• The gender recognition act: important considerations

THE POST-BREXIT LANDSCAPE

Natasha Chell

Partner & Head of Risk and Compliance
Laura Devine Immigration

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Natasha Chell

Partner & Head of Risk and Compliance , Laura Devine Immigration

Natasha is a solicitor and the risk and compliance partner in London, with over 15 years' experience in UK immigration law, nationality and EU free movement. She is ranked in Chambers and Partners 2020 as an immigration expert and recognised in Who’s Who Legal 2019 as a knowledgeable and determined adviser who is “well known in the UK market for her impressive work handling immigration and free movement matters”. In the Legal 500 UK 2018 she is described as a “polished professional with an excellent client manner, who inspires complete confidence and consistently provides well thought out advice”. With particular interest in the prevention of illegal working and risk management strategies Natasha has developed the firm's immigration compliance audit service for clients and provides strategic advice on Tier 2 compliance and remedies. She offers practical focused training on ways to improve business systems to prevent non-compliance and has an impressive record in assisting many clients in maintaining an A rating with the Home Office despite previous non-compliance, including having a civil penalty cancelled and overturning licence revocation. Natasha also manages the firm’s EU Brexit services for clients, creating tailored EU advisory services to clients and their staff preparing them for the changes ahead following the UK’s referendum to leave the EU. She provides individuals and businesses with strategic advice during the uncertainty caused by Brexit. Natasha acts for a broad range of clients from major multinationals to start-up businesses and individuals, managing some of the firm’s highest profile corporate and education clients including international financial service providers, insurance businesses and exclusive fashion, retail and entertainment organisations. As a practised speaker, Natasha is frequently invited to present to clients and contacts at events across the UK. She is a prolific writer on UK immigration for the HR media and the leading legal research provider, Lexis Nexis. Education 2006 - QLTT - BPP Law School 2000-2001 - BVC Inns of Court School of Law 1997-2000 - LLB London Guildhall University

• The position of EEA national workers post Brexit and RTW checks
• How easy will it be to employ EEA nationals post Brexit
• The future UK immigration system post Brexit

Morning coffee and networking

GDPR

Adam Rose

Partner
Mishcon de Reya

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Adam Rose

Partner , Mishcon de Reya

Adam is a Commercial and Data Protection Partner in the Intellectual Property Group, with over 25 years' experience, specialising in data protection and freedom of information law, as well as advising clients on IT and commercial contracts, including licensing, franchising, agency, distribution and terms of business. He advises clients across a number of sectors, but in particular, those in real estate, publishing and broadcasting, financial services, and retail and leisure, including hotels and restaurants. In data protection and freedom of information, he advises corporates and individuals on all aspects of the law. Adam is the International Development Partner at Mishcon de Reya. His primary objective is to ensure the firm consistently delivers the best advice to its clients and to gain the trust of clients and lawyers from around the world. He works closely with the partners appointed as leaders for each international region to closely monitor the overseas service the Firm provides, the expansion of its client-base and how it is delivering against its strategy.

• Conducting privacy impact assessment
• How do you manage your policy
• Impact on your policy and procedures
• Rights of individual versus business needs

CASE STUDY: PROTECTING THE ORGANISATION AND OUR CUSTOMERS

Rachel Glaze

UK Resourcing Lead
Aviva

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Rachel Glaze

UK Resourcing Lead , Aviva

Rachel is the Resourcing Lead for Aviva in the UK. She has worked at Aviva for 17 years in a variety of HR roles across talent, recruitment and business partnering. Prior to joining Aviva Rachel worked for over 10 years at British Airways Holidays in Customer Service management roles At Aviva Rachel is accountable for the delivery of resourcing services for the UK businesses and functions. An in-house operational and business partnering team work alongside RPO, MSP, Screening and Marketing partner organisations to provide this. Rachel is a member of the CIPD and an accredited Strengths Practioner with Cappfinity. Rachel is passionate about helping to unlock opportunities for people, at all career stages, to enable them to do the best work of their lives. She sits on the advisory boards for upReach and Career Ready; both national charities working to introduce young people from diverse backgrounds into the world of work.

• The importance of fit and proper staff to Aviva
• Changing our pre-employment screening approach
  • Why the need for change
  • Our RFP / selection process
  • Partnership working with RPO and screening partners
• Policies and processes
• Key learnings

Lunch and networking

NEW STANDARDS FOR SCREENING IN THE DIGITAL AGE

David Lean

Co-Founder
Association for Online Due Diligence

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David Lean

Co-Founder , Association for Online Due Diligence

David has been in pre-employment screening for more than 20yrs. He founded a pre-employment screening business and developed the PASS pre-employment screening software which is used by some of the largest employers in the UK. He is a long term member of the British Standards BS7858 screening committee and provides consultancy to companies in this sector. His is currently helping organisations benefit from online due diligence and is a founder member of the Association for Online Due Diligence with the aim of ensuring high standards in the use of internet data in informing hiring and investment decisions.

• Why search the internet for information
• How do online searches differ from the current references and checks
• Social Media Screening and Deeper Internet Searches
• Are they legal, ethical and GDPR compliant?
• Why outsource these types of service?
• Why have we formed www.afodd.org
• Best practice for providers and consumers of these services

ROBUST VETTING: POLICY AND PRACTICE

Tania Bowers

General Counsel
APSCo

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Tania Bowers

General Counsel , APSCo

Tania manages our Legal Services team and is a solicitor who has worked in the professional staffing sector since 1999. Following training and post qualification experience in private practice, she worked for 14 years as Head of Legal and Compliance and subsequently Group Legal Director for a global listed STEM specialist recruiter. Subsequently she has continued to advise professional recruiters and supported APSCo members as General Counsel since March 2016. Tania is responsible for advising members and affiliates on regulatory changes and legal issues affecting the industry, overseeing our members’ and affiliates’ adherence to our codes of conduct and delivering legal services to members including model contracts and precedents and the legal helpdesk. She works alongside Samantha Hurley on APSCo's public affairs, representing our members’ interests in consultations with the government and other bodies on regulatory change

• Vetting and screening permanent versus contingent workers
• Vetting for internal risks
• Differences and similarities in approach
• The right to re-check: whether and where to use this clause in contracts

CASE STUDY: HARNESSING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO MAXIMISE THE EFFICIENCY OF YOUR VETTING PROCESS

Jagriti Patwari

Director
Eurocom C.I.

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Jagriti Patwari

Director , Eurocom C.I.

Graduating UCL in 2004, Jagriti went on to become a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser qualifying in 2008. She then started her own business Maroon Accounts which has been established since 2009 where she not only undertakes the usual accountancy practice compliance works, but also advises her clients on best business operations. In 2016, one of her clients, Paul Carratu was in the market to sell his market leading pre-employment and DBS checking business. Jagriti saw an opportunity for a new challenge and together with her father purchased Eurocom CI Limited. The skills and attributes Jagriti had achieved in her accountancy business were easily transferrable to the Pre-employment screening world. A keen eye for detail, a passion for compliance and a drive for efficiency in highly regulated industries are the very characteristics that make Jagriti a true professional in each of her businesses. Outside of the office, Jagriti is committed to travelling, boxing and will challenge anyone to a boardgame. She brings the competitive attitude to the works place and since becoming the Director of Eurocom CI has developed some proprietary software to facilitate employee screenings and is always seeking the next challenge to improve efficiency.

Simon Whitehead

Director
Better Retirement Group Ltd

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Simon Whitehead

Director , Better Retirement Group Ltd

Simon graduated from Cambridge University, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. While there he specialised in high precision engineering companies and financial services. He worked as head of finance at various large companies including the AA, Bank of Ireland and the Prudential. He was chief executive of Partnership Assurance, a specialist in impaired life assurance and long term care. Simon has also qualified as an independent financial adviser, and is building a portfolio of retail clients. He is a director and part owner at Better Retirement Group Limited and at The National Careline. He is a Trustee of employee ownership trust Dustscan. At Better Retirement Simon is responsible for onboarding new employees compliantly with the expectations of the Financial Conduct Authority. He chose to outsource a major part of pre-employment screening to Eurocom CI. Simon spends time with his family, keeps chickens, reads history and is treasurer of Oxfordshire CAMRA

• In house or outsource? Essential questions to ask
• What are the new and future possibilities?
• Ensuring your systems are workable and compliant
• Case studies: lessons learned

Afternoon tea and networking

THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY: OUTSOURCING THE VETTING PROCESS – HOW TO OPTIMISE YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Caroline Smith

VP Deputy General Counsel, International
HireRight Ltd

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Caroline Smith

VP Deputy General Counsel, International , HireRight Ltd

Caroline Smith has been with the HireRight group for over 10 years and is Deputy General Counsel for HireRight’s International business (EMEA/APAC region). Caroline assists in the negotiation of contracts across the region and leads the International business compliance function advising on a range of issues including data protection and regulatory updates. Caroline is a UK qualified lawyer with over 18 years’ experience and prior to joining HireRight, she was with Herbert Smith LLP and Clyde & Co LLP working on a range of complex international corporate, corporate insolvency and commercial matters. Caroline earned her Master of Arts degree at the University of Saint Andrews and went on to study law at the College of Law in York earning the GDL and LPC postgraduate qualifications.

Teresa Fitzgibbons

Marketing Director, EMEA & APAC
HireRight Ltd

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Teresa Fitzgibbons

Marketing Director, EMEA & APAC , HireRight Ltd

Teresa Fitzgibbons is the Marketing Director for EMEA and APAC at HireRight, responsible for managing the marketing strategy and operations in these two key growth markets. Throughout her career, Teresa has worked extensively in the Financial Services sector, including senior marketing roles at RBS and Avios. Outside of work, Teresa enjoys travelling the world and pretending to be sporty.

• Making the outsourcing decision: essential questions to ask
• What makes the best fit? Avoiding wasting time and resources
• Potential challenges and how to manage them
• Volume recruitment and checking – what are your best options and how do you monitor and maintain standards?

TACKLING AND MINIMISING IDENTITY FRAUD: WHAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF

Ian Westwood.

Director
Passport Proven

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Ian Westwood.

Director , Passport Proven

Ian Westwood worked at the Home Office from 1993-2003. He was an operational Immigration Officer serving at Heathrow, Gatwick and Dover before being promoted to Chief Immigration Officer based in Croydon. Since then he has set up his own consultancy business, providing training and immigration advice to a variety of corporate and private clients on the subject of Immigration. He is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner to provide immigration advice in the UK. Ian’s training credentials include the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s Certificate of Training Practice and the Belbin Team-Role Accreditation.

• Identify fraud
• ID verification
• Proof of work
• Passport / ID Document verification
• Forgery
• Passport checks
• Passport verifier app
• Use/misuse of business visas
• Identification verification systems

Wrap-up and end of conference

Drinks Reception Sponsored by HireRight