Driving Inclusion from the Ground Up: A Toolkit for Transformative Hiring

Inclusion isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a business imperative. And thanks to the Bristol Inclusion Hackathon, organisations now have a powerful new resource to help them embed inclusive hiring practices from the inside out.

Esther, founder of Myrtos Consultancy and long-time advocate for justice reform, participated in the Hackathon in 2024 as part of the Inclusive Hiring Model group. Her focus? Championing individuals with criminal convictions and spotlighting businesses that are already leading the way by hiring people with records.

What Is the Inclusive Hiring Model Toolkit?

The Inclusive Hiring Model Toolkit is a comprehensive roadmap designed to help organisations of all sizes, start-ups, SMEs, and large enterprises, create fairer, more equitable recruitment processes. It’s not a one-size-fits-all checklist, but a flexible framework that meets businesses where they are and guides them toward meaningful change.

Here’s what the toolkit covers:

🧭 Before Recruitment: Laying the Groundwork

• Define your Employee Value Proposition (EVP) with inclusion at its core

• Identify potential biases in job descriptions and hiring criteria

• Build cross-functional teams to support inclusive design (HR, IT, marketing, etc.)

• Create “brave spaces” for dialogue and challenge, not just “safe spaces”

  
  

🤝 During Recruitment: Engaging with Intention

• Use bias detection tools and inclusive language in job ads

• Advertise through non-traditional channels to reach underrepresented groups

• Offer multiple application formats and anonymised submissions

• Avoid quotas, focus on systemic change, not surface-level metrics

  
  

👥 After Recruitment: Onboarding for Belonging

• Train interviewers to recognise and mitigate unconscious bias

• Use structured, competency-based interviews with diverse panels

• Provide accommodations and support from day one

• Establish mentorship and feedback loops to refine your process

  
  

Esther’s Advocacy in Action

Esther’s contribution to the Hackathon was rooted in her deep experience in criminal justice and inclusive employment. She brought a sharp lens to the barriers faced by people with convictions and ensured the toolkit reflected real-world solutions. Her advocacy helped shape sections of the guide that highlight businesses already hiring inclusively, proving that change is not only possible, but profitable and powerful.

From Costa Coffee’s simple yet effective accommodations for deaf staff, to Kier Group’s inclusive recruitment policies, the toolkit is rich with case studies that show how small shifts can lead to big impact.

Why This Matters

Inclusive hiring isn’t just about doing the right thing; it’s about building resilient, innovative teams that reflect the communities they serve. For organisations looking to move beyond performative diversity statements, this toolkit offers a practical, evidence-based starting point.

Whether you're a founder, HR lead, or policy maker, the Inclusive Hiring Model Toolkit is your invitation to rethink recruitment and reimagine what’s possible.