Open Hiring Project

Open Hiring UK is a joint initiative between Social Entrepreneur Place – a UK social enterprise with over twenty years’ experience supporting employment-focused organisations – and Start Foundation, the Dutch charity that has pioneered Open Hiring across the Netherlands for the past eight years.

Our Story

The premise is simple: No CV. No Problem. Open Hiring removes the barriers that prevent people from even getting through the door, offering jobs to the first person who applies – no interview, no background check, just a chance to work. The approach was created in 1982 at Greyston Bakery in New York and has since been adopted by major employers across the Netherlands, including McDonald’s, Albert Heijn and La Place.

Open Hiring UK launched its pilot in January 2026, with the ambition of making it easier for UK employers to access a wider, more diverse talent pool while creating real employment opportunities for people who are currently locked out of the labour market. The project has secured support from a leading HR consultancy, bringing professional expertise to help employers implement the model with confidence.

We are actively seeking forward-thinking employers who want to simplify their hiring, reduce recruitment costs, and make a genuine difference to their communities.

The Partners

 

Start Foundation

Lead Partner
Open Hiring Netherlands

Social Entrepreneur Place

Lead Partner
Karen Leigh Anderson

 

 

The Number 1 HR Consultancy

Advisor Partner
Charlotte Johns