Good Jobs
Project

Helping boost businesses success through recruiting hidden talent

About the project

The Good Jobs Project helps businesses to employ people who are often kept on the margins of the labour market, in order to change lives, boost business success and grow the economy.

Our research shows that ‘hidden talent’ groups – such as care leavers, people with convictions, or young people with mental health conditions – make excellent employees if given the chance. Yet, too often, these individuals are locked out of opportunities because businesses face barriers accessing and employing them.

Launched in 2023, the Good Jobs Project is working to change this. To drive change, we build and support coalitions of businesses to successfully employ hidden talent, forge government-business collaboration to increase business action, and support apprenticeship reform to turbo-charge this agenda.

The benefits of business employing hidden talent

Businesses employing hidden talent can have significant benefits for businesses, individuals, government and the wider economy.

Businesses benefit by filling their vacancies with talented individuals. This isn’t about charity. It is also good business: businesses recruiting hidden talent report high staff loyalty, creativity and resilience, as well as increased productivity and performance. Our research shows that recruiting from hidden talent pools strengthens organisational culture, enhances reputation and supports long‑term value creation and growth.

Access to good work provides financial stability, dignity and opportunity for people facing barriers to work. Meaningful jobs enable individuals to build skills, progress in work and contribute fully to their communities.

Enabling more people to participate in the labour market is key to driving economic growth. Employing hidden talent can help increase productivity, drive innovation, build stronger communities, while easing pressure on the government by reducing reliance on the benefits system.

Progress to date

Introducing the Midlands Employer Alliance

Off the back of our 2023 research, we launched the Midlands Employer Alliance with Severn Trent – a coalition of 16 leading businesses collectively recruiting over 50,000 people a year, and dedicated to helping employers fill vacancies with hidden talent. Severn Trent andother Alliance businesses have since launched and scaled care leaver work readiness programmes, and together have pledged 400 placements over the next four years.

Apprenticeship reform for people who need it most

We are delighted that many of our recommendations on maximising apprenticeships for hidden talent were adopted by the government over 2025, following publication of our research and hosting a roundtable with the Minister for Skills and leading businesses. In 2025, we were invited to judge the government’s National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards.

Good business driving innovation

We are building momentum with senior leaders across business and government to find innovative ways to increase hidden talent employment.

We have a number of exciting new initiatives launching soon. Watch this space!

Ready to unlock the potential of hidden talent?

Join our network of employers, policymakers, and partners working to transform access to good jobs. Whether you’re looking to join the Midlands Employer Alliance, pilot new approaches or share learning, we’d love to hear from you.