London-based startup HiredByMe has launched the Portable PES (pre-employment screening), which will allow contractors to complete their checks in advance of finding an engagement, and then carry their data from role to role.

The Portable PES allows candidates to control all their own data and see the results in advance of releasing them to agents and clients.

According to HiredByMe, financial services contractors report delays costing them upwards of £180 million a year as they wait unpaid on the bench for new engagements to start.

Many APSCo (Association of Professional Staffing Companies) members are supporting the launch, and report the benefits as being a cheaper, lower effort process for themselves; coupled with delivering a smoother, simpler process – and fewer unpaid days on the bench – for candidates; and faster onboarding of critical workers for clients.

“Hiring managers need their contractors productive as soon as possible after selection,” Chris Bryce, CEO of IPSE (Association of Independent Professionals and Self-Employed), said. “Twenty years ago it was commonplace to have a contractor on board the day after that decision had been made, but nowadays it can take up to three weeks to complete the screening, that’s three weeks the client’s not getting the work done and three weeks the independent professional isn’t billing for their work.”

Oliver Harris, CEO of RPO and MSP specialist Resource Solutions commented: "As an industry, recruitment outsourcing needs to support solutions like this which allow us to marry our clients’ objectives and rapidly deliver outstanding workers, coupled with a robust compliance process."

Pre-employment screening encompasses the checks required before a worker is allowed on-site. It includes such checks as credit, criminal, directorship and employment history. HiredByMe states that it is typical in the financial services industry for this process to take between 2 and 4 weeks.