Why are background checks important?


Hiring the right people starts with a proactive approach to risk management. This is especially so in sectors like telecommunications and utilities, where employees often have access to sensitive infrastructure, customer data, or private residences.

That’s why background checks should be a core part of your onboarding process, not an afterthought.

Why it matters

Number 1

Criminal record checks help identify potential red flags before a candidate is hired

Number 2

Employment history and affiliation reviews provide deeper insight into a candidate’s reliability and integrity

Number 3

Early verification protects your customers, your data, and your brand reputation

By integrating background checks from the very beginning of the hiring journey, you can make informed decisions, reduce risk, and build a workforce you can trust.

Why are background checks important?

In the telecommunications and utilities industries, most background checks – aside from the legally required Right to Work check – are not mandated by law. However, due to the sensitive nature of the roles and the critical infrastructure involved, many organisations are now voluntarily adopting higher screening standards such as:

BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard)

A government-recommended framework for verifying identity, employment history, criminal records (unspent convictions), and right to work

BS7858

A British Standard for vetting individuals in security-sensitive roles, including checks on employment history, criminal records, financial background, and character references

With employees often accessing customer premises, handling sensitive data, or working on national infrastructure, the risks of inadequate screening are significant.

Thorough background checks help:

  • Identify potential risks before hiring
  • Support compliance with industry expectations
  • Protect customers, assets and brand reputation

We can help you determine the appropriate level of screening for each role—whether BPSS, BS7858, or a tailored combination.

Our solutions ensure you:

  • Understand what checks are required
  • Identify and address any gaps in your current process
  • Maintain a clear audit trail and outcome analysis for every candidate

Background checks in telcos and utilities should be standard practice

In April 2025, CIFAS reported a record high in fraud cases, with the telecoms sector experiencing a 105% increase[1] in account takeover incidents. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for stronger preventative measures, starting with who you hire.

Looking ahead: Economic Crime Act 2025

From September 2025, updates to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act will hold large organisations liable for failing to prevent fraud committed by anyone acting on their behalf. To avoid penalties, businesses must demonstrate they’ve taken reasonable steps to prevent fraud, including robust background screening.

Contractors and employees: One standard, one risk

With a high proportion of contractors in both telecoms and utilities, it’s critical that all personnel—contractors and permanent employees alike—are screened to the same high standards. Inconsistent screening creates vulnerabilities that fraudsters can exploit.

Leadership accountability is rising

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which will take full effect in September 2025, businesses and individuals making hiring decisions can be held personally accountable if fraud occurs and proper preventative steps aren’t taken.

If senior managers are not screened appropriately and a fraud event is linked to their actions or oversight, the consequences can include:

  • Substantial financial penalties
  • Reputational damage
  • Regulatory scrutiny
  • Personal liability for decision-makers

The solution: Consistent, role-appropriate screening

We can help organisations implement screening frameworks aligned with BPSS, BS7858, and other industry standards, ensuring every individual, from frontline contractors to senior executives, is vetted appropriately.

What background checks are required?

In most roles across the UK, the only mandatory background check is the Right to Work check, which confirms a candidate’s legal eligibility to work in the UK. For UK citizens, this typically involves verifying a valid passport.

The most efficient way to complete this is through a digital Right to Work app, which accelerates the process and provides full visibility and control over each check.

However, in high-risk roles within the telecommunications and utilities sectors, we strongly recommend a more comprehensive screening approach to support compliance, safety and fraud prevention.

Recommended background checks for telcos & utilities

Enhanced Criminal Record Check (role dependent)

  • The highest level of criminal screening in the UK.
  • Includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and relevant police information.
  • Includes DBS barred list checks, which are essential for roles involving contact with vulnerable individuals, either in person or over the phone.

Occupational History

  • Verifies employment history, including gaps and dates.
  • Standard: 3 years of history.
  • Regulated roles (e.g. under SMCR): 6 years of verified history.

Educational References

  • Confirms qualifications and skills.
  • Crucial for technical roles requiring specialist knowledge or certifications.

Adverse Financial Checks

  • Identifies financial red flags such as CCJs, missed payments, or high debt levels.
  • Important for roles involving financial responsibility or access to sensitive data.

DVLA Checks (role dependent)

  • Ensures employees driving for work have valid licences.
  • Helps manage risk and compliance with road safety standards.

Social Media Checks

  • While not mandatory, these checks help identify reputational risks.
  • Useful for public-facing or high-trust roles where brand image matters.

Social media checks, though not essential, are highly recommended. They help identify harmful content or behaviour from employees, safeguarding the company’s reputation in industries where trust and reliability are paramount.

Kayleigh Haywood, Background Checking Consultant, Experian

While this is important for all industries, it is particularly important in sectors that handle sensitive customer data and critical infrastructure.

Key Takeaway

In the telcos and utilities industries, where trust, safety, and compliance are critical, employers should go beyond the legal minimum.

 

Implementing six key background checks (criminal record, occupational history, educational references, adverse financial, DVLA (where applicable), and social media screening) helps mitigate risk, protect customers, and supports regulatory readiness.

Tips for background screening for telcos and utilities

Background screening in the telecommunications and utilities sectors presents unique challenges, particularly around speed, compliance, and candidate experience. Here are some key tips to help you overcome them.

Speed matters

Both sectors often face high candidate drop-off rates during recruitment, largely due to the slow turnaround times associated with manual background checks.

Time to hire is a key challenge for the telcos and utilities sector. Due to the competitive nature of the sector, employers need to background check their prospective employees thoroughly, but also at speed. We can help with this.

George Shelley, Background Checking Specialist, Experian

Manual screening processes can be time-consuming and inefficient, leading to delays that frustrate candidates, many of whom may abandon their applications or accept offers from faster-moving competitors. This not only affects talent acquisition but also impacts workforce stability and productivity.

Our tip

Implement automated screening solutions to streamline your process, reduce turnaround times, and improve candidate retention. Digital tools can help support compliance while accelerating hiring, giving you a competitive edge in a fast-moving market.

Don’t stop at hiring: The importance of annual re-screening

If you’re investing in background checks at the point of hire, it’s just as important to consider ongoing re-screening, especially in the telecommunications and utilities sectors, where employees often handle sensitive data, access critical infrastructure, or interact with vulnerable customers.

While initial background checks are essential, they only reflect a moment in time. Annual re-screening helps reduce the risk of misconduct or changes in personal circumstances that could impact your business.

The background check is only as good as the day you run it. If you haven’t re-checked an employee for five years, you don’t know what they may have been doing during that time. We can help you recheck your employees, ensuring that nothing has changed that may affect the safety and security of your business.

George Shelley, Background Checking Specialist, Experian

A practical approach to re-screening

Although re-screening your entire workforce annually may not be feasible, targeted or random re-screening of specific employee groups can act as a powerful deterrent and help maintain a culture of accountability and trust.

Key Takeaway

When background screening employees in the telecommunications and utilities sectors, consider how digital checks from an outsourced provider can enhance both speed and efficiency in your hiring process.

 

Equally important is annual re-vetting. If full workforce re-screening isn’t feasible, focusing on targeted employee groups offers a practical and effective way to detect emerging risks and supports compliance.

Protecting your brand with background checks

In the telecommunications and utilities industries, your employees play a vital role. They enter customers’ homes and work on the essential services that keep the nation connected and powered.

That level of access and responsibility demands trust. By screening prospective candidates thoroughly, you can:

  • Protect your operations and customers
  • Reduce the risk of fraud or misconduct
  • Safeguard your brand’s reputation

Our background screening services are designed to help you hire with confidence. With a dedicated UK-based team, your account manager is always just a phone call or email away, ready to support you with expert guidance and a fast, reliable service.

Get in touch to discover how we can support your business.

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