Fair Recruitment
Ban the Box

What it is, why it matters, and how Advance 2 Go works with employers who have signed up.

The Campaign
What is Ban the Box?

Ban the Box is a campaign run by Business in the Community (BITC) that calls on UK employers to remove the criminal conviction tick box from their initial job application forms. Instead of asking about convictions at the very first stage — before anyone has read a CV — Ban the Box employers ask later, typically after interview or at the point of offer.

Launched in 2013, the campaign has grown into one of the most significant fair recruitment initiatives in the UK, now covering over one million jobs. The principle is simple: give people a fair chance to be judged on their skills, experience and character before their conviction is considered.

1m+
Jobs covered by Ban the Box employers
2013
Year the campaign launched in the UK
25-33%
Reduction in reoffending linked to employment

"Two thirds of employers admit to discriminating against people with criminal records. Ban the Box employers recognise the skills and loyalty this group can bring — and remove the tick box that stops people from even getting through the door."

— Business in the Community
The Problem It Solves
Why the tick box is a barrier

When a job application asks about criminal convictions at the very first stage, most people with a conviction simply do not apply — not because they are unsuitable, but because they assume they will be rejected before anyone has read a word about their skills or experience.

This is a loss for everyone. Employers miss out on motivated, reliable candidates. People with convictions miss out on opportunities they are fully capable of fulfilling. And the wider community pays the cost through higher reoffending rates.

Removing the tick box does not mean ignoring convictions. Ban the Box employers still ask — they just ask at the right moment, when context can be given and a full picture has been formed.

Who Has Signed Up
Sectors covered include
Construction
Retail
Hospitality
Logistics
Facilities
Healthcare
Legal
Financial
Housing
Public Sector
Charities
Transport

The full list of every signed-up employer is published at bitc.org.uk — updated December 2025.

For Employers
How to sign up to Ban the Box

Signing up to Ban the Box is free and straightforward. Here is what it involves:

1
Remove the tick box
Remove the criminal conviction question from your initial application form. You do not need to remove it from the process entirely — just from the first stage.
2
Decide when you will ask
Most Ban the Box employers ask about convictions after interview, at the conditional offer stage — giving candidates the chance to be assessed on their merits first and to explain any conviction in context.
3
Register with Business in the Community
Sign up officially at bitc.org.uk to appear on the published employer list and signal your commitment publicly.
4
Partner with Advance 2 Go
As a Ban the Box employer you are already committed to fair recruitment. Advance 2 Go can supply vetted, work-ready candidates who are fully prepared for the disclosure conversation — making the whole process simple, legally compliant and genuinely rewarding.
Important Note for Employers
Ban the Box does not mean ignoring convictions. DBS checks where legally required still apply. Employers can still take unspent convictions into account where directly relevant to the role. What Ban the Box changes is when and how that conversation happens — not whether it happens at all. Advance 2 Go provides full legal guidance to every employer partner throughout this process.
For Job Seekers
What Ban the Box means for you

If you have a criminal conviction, Ban the Box employers are your best starting point. They have already made a public commitment to give you a fair chance — you will not be screened out at the application stage before anyone has even read your CV.

It does not guarantee a job, and some convictions may still prevent you from working in certain roles. But it means your skills, experience and character get to be heard first.

How Advance 2 Go Can Help
We work exclusively with employers who are open to hiring people with convictions — including Ban the Box employers across West Yorkshire. We prepare you fully for the disclosure conversation, advise on what you need to say and what you legally do not, and make introductions only to employers where you have a genuine chance. Register with us at no cost.
Find Ban the Box Employers
The full employer list is published by Business in the Community at bitc.org.uk — searchable by sector and updated regularly.
Know Your Rights
Many convictions become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 — meaning you may not need to disclose them at all. Download our free guide for full details.
Register With Us
Free CV support, disclosure coaching, interview preparation and introductions to committed employers. Register with Advance 2 Go today — no cost, no obligation.
Ready to be a Ban the Box employer?

Get in touch and we will help you sign up, update your recruitment policy and find your first candidate.

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