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Background Verification Solutions
Workforce Solutions
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Background screening you can trust, wherever you hire and however you grow

Matrix Security Watchdog delivers fast, secure and consistent pre-employment checks for organisations hiring across the UK and globally.

Powered by almost three decades of screening, risk and compliance expertise, we help you hire safely and confidently with a blend of smart technology and human insight.

Over 50 Checks | Chat with the Team
Under 50 Checks | Pay-as-you-Go
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Trusted by organisations around the world that need reliable, easy-to-navigate, compliant screening, across permanent, contingent and international workforces.

Trusted by leading companies

Background Verification Solutions

Our background verification solutions help organisations move quickly, reduce uncertainty and create safer hiring outcomes. Whether you're hiring in the UK, expanding internationally or building new teams, we provide global background checks that support compliant, efficient onboarding across every role type.

As the UK's longest-standing background screening provider, we combine smart automation with specialist human oversight to give you verified results, clear reporting and a seamless candidate journey. From identity and right to work through to criminal record checks, employment history, education verification and regulated screening, our solutions adapt to the needs of each role and each organisation, meaning you can build bespoke packages to your unique requirements.

Background Verification Solutions

Screening packages for every hiring need:

  • Core – identity, right to work and criminal record checks

  • Enhanced – employment history, education, address checks and regulated screening

  • International – global criminal, employment and education checks

  • Specialist – screening for finance, healthcare, government, safeguarding and other regulated environments & more

Checks we offer:

  • Digital Identity
  • Right-to-work
  • Criminal record checks (UK and global)
  • Employment verification (including instant employment & income verification)
  • Education & qualification checks
  • Address & credit checks
  • Sanctions & compliance checks
  • Social media & adverse media
  • Professional references
  • Regulated and role-specific screening
  • And many more…

What You Gain

A comprehensive screening solution shaped for you and your workforce:

  • Global background checks with consistent quality
  • Robust screening for UK hires and international roles
  • A full suite of checks across identity, criminality, employment and education
  • Clear, verified results and auditable reporting
  • Premium candidate experience with a dedicated candidate manager 
  • UK Support Model for both Clients & Candidates
  • Integration options for your existing ATS and HRIS

Plus

  • Mobile-first candidate experience and a leading, smart screening platform
  • Gain more with our decades of experience, with additional guidance on industry best practices, risk and compliance
  • Verified reporting and data analysis
  • A more bespoke integration route if required, through our Open API

Pricing

Two routes to suit how you hire and grow:

50+ checks a year: Explore a fully-managed service model with tailored programme levels, reporting and dedicated account management support to suit the unique needs of your business.

Under 50 checks a year: Fast, simple pay-as-you-go background checks via our online self-service

With Matrix Security Watchdog, we always work to give you transparent pricing with no hidden costs, including options for volume discounts and multi-country screening across 195 global territories.

What our customers say:

MACE_HSLOGO

“Matrix Security Watchdog has given us real-time visibility and the confidence to manage risk proactively, rather than constantly reacting to last-minute issues.

Screening may not be the most glamorous part of workforce planning, but it’s one of the most critical. It’s the foundation for trust, safety and performance and it underpins the quality we strive for in every project.”

Anne Woolcott,
Employee Relations Operations Director

Mencap_HSLOGO

“Of the many platforms we use at Mencap, Matrix Security Watchdog’s is the simplest to use.

The portal allows us to build custom reports with options that can be downloaded as spreadsheets. These show all applicants, the stages they’re at, and how long they’ve been in that stage - it’s really great. It’s also easy to break down data by region and manage the process with our counter signatories. The whole user experience is excellent." 

Philippa Gordon
HR Shared Services Manager

NPL_HSLOGO

“The support we received from Matrix Security Watchdog was exceptional. The onboarding calls were structured and transparent, ensuring all stakeholders felt confident in adopting the new system.

Their platform’s intuitive design and real-time updates have transformed how we manage screening. We can track candidate progress with ease, improving both internal communication and the candidate experience.”

Catherine Swain
People & Development Manager

quest-global-logo

“It’s less of a transaction and more of a risk function with Matrix Security Watchdog. We need to know if we’re taking a calculated risk or just being foolhardy – Security Watchdog delivers that.

My plan is to bring Matrix Security Watchdog on that journey with us as we expand globally. I don’t see any reason why we’d change.”

James Murdoch
Head of Safety & Security

How it Works

A Simple Screening Process

Step One

Tell us who and where you're hiring

Share the role, location and level of screening you need. We support everything from rapid checks to regulated, high-assurance screening.

Step Two

Candidates complete their checks

Candidates receive a secure link to complete identity, right-to-work, and any other checks through the easy, mobile-first digital journey.

Step Three

Receive verified results and onboard

You receive clear, verified reports and full visibility of progress, so you can make confident hiring decisions and onboard quickly.

For larger or complex organisations:
Integrate screening directly into your ATS or HR systems through our open API or existing system integrations, reducing duplicate data entry and streamlining internal workflows.

Over 50 Checks | Chat with the Team
Under 50 Checks | Pay-as-you-Go

The challenges you’re facing

Across HR, talent, compliance and procurement teams, employers commonly face challenges such as:

  • Screening delays that slow down hiring and increase candidate drop-out

  • Frustrating candidate experiences that reduce engagement

  • Complex UK compliance requirements, including DBS and right to work

  • Limited visibility of screening progress and bottlenecks
  • Difficulty scaling screening during high-volume periods

These challenges create avoidable risk, cost and inefficiency at critical points in your hiring process.

Account management

How we help solve them

Matrix Security Watchdog removes friction with a combination of advanced technology, deep expertise and tailored support.

We help you:

  • Speed up hiring with fast, consistent global screening

  • Deliver a premium candidate experience with smooth, mobile-first journeys

  • Strengthen safeguarding and compliance, including regulated roles and DBS checks
  • Increase visibility and control with clear dashboards and verified results
  • Scale screening confidently during seasonal peaks or expansion phases

You get a screening partner designed for confident, compliant and efficient hiring, wherever you operate.

Over 50 Checks | Chat with the Team
Under 50 Checks | Pay-as-you-Go

The Results Our Customers See

Employers that partner with Matrix Security Watchdog see measurable improvements in speed, compliance and operational efficiency. Typical outcomes include:

Case Studies

The best fit for:

Matrix Security Watchdog is the right partner if you:

Hire at scale

completing 50 or more background checks a year

Recruit across multiple markets and territories

and you need consistent global screening that you can trust

Operate in regulated or high-assurance sectors

where speed matters but accuracy & compliance cannot be compromised

Need smart screening that can adapt

to your unique business - whether a mix of permanent, contingent, or international workers

Want to reduce manual workloads

with integrations that cut duplicate data entry and platform automation that removes repetitive tasks for your internal teams

Candidate

Value a premium candidate experience

that improves speed and engagement and protects your employer brand

Need a blend of smart automation and human expertise

rather than a purely automated or purely manual service - the best of leading technology with leading expertise

Want a long-term partner, not a transactional supplier

with dedicated account management and UK-based support

Expect transparent pricing

with predictable service levels and clear reporting

Searching

May not fit:

Our pay-as-you-go service may be a better option if you:

  • Complete fewer than 50 checks a year
  • Only need occasional, low-volume screening
  • Do not require ATS/HRIS integrations
  • Prefer simple, one-off checks without wider programme support

For these scenarios, our self-service eCommerce gives you fast, compliant screening without ongoing commitment.

Frequently asked questions

What is pre-employment screening?


Pre-employment screening is the process of verifying a candidate’s identity, eligibility to work, background and experience before they join your organisation.

It helps employers confirm that the information a candidate has shared is accurate and that they meet the legal, regulatory and safeguarding requirements for the role.

Screening typically includes checks such as identity, right to work, criminal record history, employment and education verification, and any sector-specific or regulated checks needed for higher-assurance roles.

The goal is simple: to help organisations hire safely, confidently and compliantly.

What checks do I need for the roles I’m hiring?

The checks you need depend on the role, level of risk and any sector-specific requirements. We’ll help you build a screening package that aligns with your legal, regulatory and safeguarding obligations, whether the role is UK-based or international.

Do you support DBS checks, including Enhanced?

Yes. We provide Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, including regulated activity checks where required. We also provide Disclosure Scotland and Access NI checks.

How long do background checks take?

Timelines vary based on the type and location of the checks you choose. We are proud to have industry-leading turn around times and our premium candidate experience makes the journey as frictionless as possible for applicants to complete, so many complete quickly. Where there are international or more highly regulated checks require, these may take longer. We’ll give you clear expectations and transparent timelines.

How quickly can we get started?

You can begin screening immediately through our pay-as-you-go service for volumes under 50, or we can onboard volume clients with tailored support and integration options. Implementation typically takes 4–6 weeks but we also work hard to understand your specific timelines and create a plan side-by-side for your unique needs.

How do candidates complete their checks?

Candidates complete everything online through a simple, mobile-first journey. They receive clear instructions and can complete checks at a time that suits them.

What happens if something concerning appears in a check?

We provide clear, verified results and guidance so you can make a fair and informed decision. We don’t provide judgement – but we give you the clarity you need to assess risk appropriately.

Can we integrate the screening process and your platform with our existing systems?

Yes. We offer an open API and support a range of ATS and HRIS integrations to reduce duplicate data entry and streamline your hiring workflows.

Do you support international screening?

Yes. We deliver consistent, reliable screening across 95 territories gloablly, with global criminal, employment, education checks and more available.

Do you offer screening for smaller volumes?

Yes. Employers conducting fewer than 50 checks a year can use our pay-as-you-go eCommerce service.

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Talk to our team

Speak to our screening specialists about your hiring needs, book a demo or explore a pilot programme. Whether you’re reviewing your current screening approach or building something new, we’ll help you find the right solution.