Fair Chance Business Alliance

FCBA is a powerful collaboration for change, equipping employers to unlock the potential of people with criminal records. Focused on purpose-driven inclusion, they empower businesses to be agents of social change while achieving sustainable success.

The cornerstone of the Alliance is the Fair Chance Charter, a single set of standards that provide a framework for businesses committed to providing meaningful employment opportunities to people with experience of the criminal justice system.

Fair Chance employment means making decisions about recruiting and advancing people on a case-by-case basis and without prejudice. Any potential risk posed by a candidate’s offending history should be balanced against their skills and experience, and mitigating factors such as the time since the offence occurred, the relevance of the offence to the role etc.

While a modest range of roles are subject to specific regulatory frameworks, only ‘regulated activities’ (working with children and vulnerable adults) are subject to statutory barring, managed via your national Criminal Record service.

Many organisations are aware, curious, supportive of or keen to include people with criminal records in their workforce. Equally, many of those with criminal records would welcome a recognisable indication that an employer is ready, willing and able to offer them a Fair Chance.

FCBA has been inspired by the success of their counterparts in the USA and Canada, for example, who’ve started Fair Chance initiatives in their respective countries. They’ve also taken a lead from the parallel growth of UK government schemes like Disability Confident and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which have widened participation here in the UK with their Bronze/Silver/Gold membership models.

Drawing from both models (and others) they have create a unique proposition that is robust, achievable and will ultimately present a recognisable indicator for both Fair Chance employers and candidates.