Employer

Alliances

Bringing businesses together to recruit untapped talent

We build coalitions of leading businesses who work together to unlock the potential of untapped talent.

What are Employer Alliances?

Our Employer Alliances are coalitions of HR and impact leaders from major companies, working together to unlock the potential of untapped talent – supported by ReGenerate's expertise and government connections.

Members of Employer Alliances work collaboratively to help more businesses across the UK actively employ untapped talent - including care leavers, ex-offenders, disadvantaged young people – because they recognise both the talent and the business benefits.

By working collectively, employers can fill vacancies, strengthen their organisations, and create meaningful opportunities for individuals who often find themselves locked out of employment opportunities.

Our Alliances build on our Good Jobs Project research, revealing that around 50% of UK employers want to take proactive steps to recruit from untapped talent groups, but only 10% of employers actually do.

Our Employer Alliances

Midlands Employer Alliance (MEA)

Co-chaired by Severn Trent, the MEA brings together 16 leading businesses collectively recruiting over 50,000 people per year.

If you’re a Midlands-based employer interested in joining, get in touch below.

Activities & progress

Launched successful care leaver work-readiness programmes, driving 10x increase in care leavers securing work experience placements

Co-chair Severn Trent pledged to create 400 placements with regional employers over the next four years

Helped shape major government policy reforms on youth employment, including £3k Youth Jobs Grants for businesses hiring young people on benefits, which we called for in our Good Business Manifesto.

Members

London Employer Alliance (LEA)

Over 300,000 Londoners are economically inactive; yet its concentration of major employers, diverse communities, and world-leading institutions makes it uniquely positioned to drive change.

If you’re a London-based employer interested in joining, get in touch below.

Activities & progress

Just launched with ten founding members and co-chaired with Serco, the London Employer Alliance is working up plans to have a big impact on the capital, turbo-charging recruitment of untapped talent.

Stay tuned for more information on our upcoming initiatives…

Members

Northern Employer Alliance (NEA)

LAUNCHING IN Q4 2026

The North East holds England’s highest unemployment rate (7%); yet its high concentration of industrial employers and strong community networks makes it uniquely positioned to drive change.

If you’re a Northern-based employer interested in joining, get in touch below.

Activities & progress

COMING SOON

Members

COMING SOON

How Employer Alliances work

We help businesses thrive by supporting them to recruit untapped talent while ensuring practices also drive business success.

Each alliance operates as a collaborative network of influential businesses within a region, guided by a steering group of HR and impact leaders.

Create employment opportunities

Design accessible roles and work placement programmes that open doors to talented individuals from marginalised backgrounds.

Engage with government to drive change

Collectively work to unblock government barriers to solve systemic hurdles to employing untapped talent.

Foster peer-to peer business support

Share best practice and case studies through mentoring and events, to learn from each other and drive better outcomes across the network.

Measure impact

Track and report outcomes rigorously to ensure initiatives deliver real, measurable results for both businesses and the people they employ.

Build partnerships

Forge connections with charities, social enterprises, and local authorities to create a supportive ecosystem for inclusive employment. We guide the third sector on how to effectively work with businesses, ensuring they are commercially relevant.

Measure impact

Work as one across major employers, turning individual efforts into shared initiatives that reach further and deliver greater impact together.

The business benefits of joining an Employer Alliance

Joining an Employer Alliance will enable your business to:

Reach a motivated talent pool that strengthens retention and performance while helping fill hard-to-fill roles.

Join forces with other major employers on shared initiatives, so collective action achieves more than any one business could alone.

Add your weight to one employer voice that helps unblock systemic barriers and shape policy.

Be recognised as part of a credible, action-focused movement, with a compelling story to tell.

Enhance corporate reputation.

Pool experience with HR and talent leaders from major companies, skipping years of trial and error.

Access ReGenerate's evidence-based resources

Build the ROI evidence you need to win internal buy-in and sustain commitment over time.

The business case for employing untapped talent is clear

Read Our Research

86%

Rate ex-offenders as good workers.

Over 80% of UK businesses rate them highly on motivation, attendance and performance.

20%

fewer sick days

When employing ex-offenders, retention can be up to 20% higher compared to the wider workforce (see Iceland’s case study).

£35,000

cost saving per vacancy

Cost savings per vacancy filled through employment of untapped talent can save up to £500K annually (see Toyota GB’s case study).

Up to 30%

reduction in attrition

Businesses including Severn Trent and Toyota GB report retention within untapped talent cohorts to be lower than for standard recruitment pathways (see their case studies).

Ready to join an Employer Alliance?

Employer Alliances represent a strategic opportunity for businesses to access untapped talent, strengthen their teams, and make a meaningful difference in their communities. Whether you’re looking to fill critical vacancies, enhance your organisation’s culture, or lead the way in purpose-driven business practices, there’s a place for you in this movement.

Contact us below to learn more about joining an alliance in your region.

Get in touch

To find out more about joining an Employer Alliance, contact our Business Director, Amie Kendall, at amie.kendall@re-generate.org. 

Contact us

Testimonials

A few perspectives from existing members of our Employer Alliances…

  • “As a strong coalition of leading employers who have joined forces to recruit more marginalised talent, we want to inspire others in the region to do the same. We don't want to be another talking shop - we want to drive action on the ground, transforming the lives of people with convictions, care experienced and others, ultimately driving greater prosperity in the region."

    Neil Morrison, HR Director, Severn Trent

  • “It is refreshing to leave competitiveness at the door and work together with passionate people on a project with a high purpose. It has been great to see how much we can learn from each other.”

    Antoinette Farrell-Jones, People Director, Birmingham Airport

  • “Working with ReGenerate and being part of the Midlands Employer Alliance provides a great opportunity to share best practice and collaborate with employers from a number of different industries. Our shared vision of breaking down barriers for people from all walks of life to gain employment creates an incredible opportunity, both for our organisations and for those seeking employment.”

    Graham Briggs, Social Lead, Greene King

  • “At Timpson, we’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of offering prison leavers meaningful employment. It’s a win-win for both our business and for individuals who deserve a second chance."

    Darren Burns, Director of Diversity & Inclusion for the Timpson Group & Head of the Timpson Foundation