uCheck

uCheck, employment background checks in the UK

uCheck is a British company specialising in background checks for candidates and employees. Its online platform allows you to request and track different types of checks, for both organisations and individuals. The company presents itself as a registered supplier of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), as a Responsible Organisation and Registered Body with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and claims to have more than 80,000 client organisations.

Check services for businesses

The catalogue for organisations includes the usual checks in recruitment processes:

• DBS Checks in their Basic, Standard, Enhanced and Volunteer modalities.
• Right to Work Checks.
• Identity Checks and Digital Identity Verification Checks.
• Adverse Credit Checks.
• Integrations with white-label platforms and API access.

The company states that many checks are instant and that DBS Checks are usually completed in around 48 hours, with their own record of 13 minutes. Once the account is created, the client can request as many checks as needed, with no commitment or upfront credits, and receives automatic notifications of the status of each request.

Services for individuals and self-employed people

In addition to serving businesses, uCheck offers checks for individuals: Enhanced Checks for self-employed workers, Individual Basic Checks and other basic checks. The company notes that its clientele ranges from large organisations with multiple offices to small employers.

History and corporate evolution

Founded as a small family business, the company is among the first Registered Bodies to offer CRB —now DBS— Checks in the UK. In 2010 it began providing its services online, which drove its expansion across the country. In 2016 it developed its own check management platform based on customer suggestions.

In 2022 it joined The Citation Group, an alliance that has allowed it to invest nearly one million pounds in improving its technology and expanding its range of products and services. In 2023, already within that group, it acquired the background check company Disclosure Services, whose operations were integrated into uCheck. The company states it has 40 years of combined experience, 50,000 clients and millions of checks per year.

Platform, support and certifications

Account setup is done online in less than ten minutes and entering a candidate's details takes about five minutes. The company offers real-time tracking, a dedicated account manager and a customer support team reachable by live chat or phone. Regarding information security, uCheck states it is certified in Cyber Essentials and in the ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 standards. Its clients have rated it 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot, according to the company itself.

Publications and resources

uCheck maintains a blog with content on background checks, such as changes to the Right to Work system or issues at different stages of processing a DBS Check. It also publishes information on processing times and frequently asked questions.

Location and contact

Aperture, Pynes Hill, Exeter, EX2 5AZ