Recruitment banner our recruitment process

How we recruit

Our recruitment process is based on a five-stage model designed to give you the best opportunity to demonstrate your experience and skills.

Stage 1: Apply

If you meet the minimum criteria for the job role, apply as per the method described on the advert. This could be to complete our application form or to submit your CV and personal statement and/or to include a cover letter. If you are an external candidate we will also ask you to complete our equal opportunities form. We’ll send you an automatic email to confirm we’ve received your application.  

Where a person specification asks for an appropriate professional qualification as an essential requirement for the role, we are asking for a qualification in addition to the qualifying educational qualification for the role. For example, a postgraduate course, a leadership or quality management qualification or another qualification relevant to the job role.

To assist us to monitor the effectiveness of our equality and diversity practices, we would encourage you to complete our equal opportunities monitoring form as part of our application process.

Application Form Tips

CV Guidance for Applicants

Cover Letter Guidance for Applicants

Personal Statement Guidance for Applicants

Stage 2: Shortlist

We’ll review your application against the person specification and shortlist it against the qualification, experience, skill and competency requirements for the role.  If you meet our essential criteria and are eligible through either of our guaranteed interview schemes we’ll automatically shortlist you.  

Stage 3: Interview, assessment and selection

If you’re shortlisted, we’ll invite you to attend an interview and other skills assessments relevant to the role.  If you’re successful we’ll let you know that you’re the preferred candidate. 

Stage 4: Selection and conditional offer of employment

As the preferred candidate, we’ll send you a conditional offer of employment setting out your main terms and conditions of employment.  Your conditional offer will be subject to pre-employment checks and satisfactory references. 

Stage 5: Pre-employment checks and confirmed offer of employment

We’ll carry out pre-employment checks so we can confirm your offer of employment. These include:

  • proof of ID / right to work in the UK
  • two successful references, where one is from your current or most recent employer
  • a standard disclosure check
  • occupational health questionnaire and referrals, where appropriate
  • registration and qualifications check, where relevant. 

Once all checks are complete, we’ll agree a start date and formally confirm your offer of employment by providing you with a contract outlining your terms and conditions.

How we recruit inspectors

Our inspector recruitment process also follows the same model with the addition of a two-step selection stage.

Selection assessment 1

If you’re shortlisted, we’ll invite you to complete our online selection assessment. This is a written exercise designed to test your potential to be an inspector.    

Selection assessment 2

If you successfully complete the online assessment, you’ll be invited to attend an interview and complete an exercise.

If you’re successful at this stage, we’ll let you know and confirm next steps.  We’ll either confirm you’re the preferred candidate for a suitable vacancy (based on your specialism and location) or you’ll be invited to join our talent pool for future vacancies.  

For more information about our talent pool please see the FAQs here.