SRM – a leader in information risk management, business continuity and secure IT service delivery – has today announced that it has teamed up with Guardian Jobs (the dedicated jobsite from the Guardian Media Group) to launch the National Vetting Certificate (NVC).
The NVC will help to address the ‘Catch 22’ problem that currently plagues the recruitment process: many job applicants are unable to go through the vetting process without first taking up a position with an employer, but many employers are unable to recruit an applicant unless they have already been vetted.
This situation has arisen – at least in part – due to the fact employers are facing greater demands for better security, both to reduce internal risk and comply with regulation, and also because they can no longer rely on implied trust (in other words, simply believing an applicant is who they claim to be).
Unfortunately, the days of implicit trust have long gone. According to a 2008 survey for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers (in association with Symantec, HP, and The Security Company International), 39% of security breaches within large businesses were due to “staff misuse of information systems”.
Proof of identity prior to application
Understandably, employers are therefore much more cautious about employing someone who has not been vetted to a recognised and sufficient standard. As a result, applicants are under pressure to prove their identity prior to application.
The NVC meets the BS 7858 Code of Practice and solves the vetting Catch 22 by enabling applicants to prove their identity and other details without first needing to be employed. This in turn enables them to apply for positions requiring such proof.
On being presented with an NVC, an employer can verify it on a secure online national database. Once the NVC has been verified, the employer will then be able to make a more informed decision about the applicant’s suitability.
Combined, the NVC and the ability to verify it gives employers an independent and auditable level of security in the recruitment process, helping to reduce the risks they face and to better meet the demands of internal governance and compliance criteria.
Moral and legal requirement
“When it comes to recruiting new personnel, modern companies have a moral and legal requirement to protect their assets, their staff and their shareholders,” commented Stephen Brown, chief executive officer at SRM. “As a result, it will soon be unthinkable to hire someone who doesn’t hold a valid, up-to-date NVC listed on their CV alongside details of their other qualifications, work history and education.”
Established by security professionals formerly within the private sector, the police service and other Government agencies, Security Risk Management offers a range of Best Practice operational risk management services to ensure effective assurance and mitigating risk within a company’s infrastructure.
Those services include information security management services, enterprise examinations, business continuity, corporate investigations, personnel screening, ISO 27001 implementations and specialised training.
The NVC will allow job applicants to prove their identity, verify their education and certify their background for employment purposes. Not only does the NVC meet British Standard 7858, it’s also the only national vetting certificate to carry a UKAS-accredited stamp. In addition, it’s fully supported and certified by the International Professional Security Association (IPSA) as Best Practice for staff vetting.
Helping to differentiate between candidates
“The NVC is a great way for any job candidate to make their CV stand out – something which, in the current market, could be crucial in helping them to make sure their CV hits the top of the pile,” explained Matthew Chapman, the partnerships manager at Guardian Jobs.
“For employers, the NVC is a great way of differentiating between candidates. It will allow them to make a quicker, more informed and smarter decision.”
The NVC is valid for three years from the date of issue, and includes the following checks:
- five-year address verification
- credit check: County Court judgement, insolvency, bankruptcy search
- ID verification (Passport)
- written five-year employment history verification
- two personal references
- Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Basic Disclosure
- terrorist files and sanctions check
Independent proof if identity and integrity
The NVC will be particularly important for job applicants who are seeking positions that will require them to handle customer data or other sensitive information, as it will provide instant, independent proof of both their identity and integrity.
Applicants interested in ordering an NVC can access the service via a secure online application form available at both the main Guardian Jobs website (www.jobs.guardian.co.uk), and via www.thenvc.co.uk (a dedicated site launched specifically to support the NVC programme). Links to both are provided on the right hand panel of this page.