July



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July 28, 2025
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Why Real Relationships Still Matter

I’m Angela Thomas and I have spent decades working with people, building relationships, earning trust, and striving to bring growth and value to the customers I work with. If there’s one thing I have learned, and we all realise at Verifile, it’s this: People can feel when you’re genuine and they can feel it just as quickly when you’re not. Trust doesn’t come from saying the right thing; it is built over time and by being consistent, caring about the journey, investing your time, doing what you say you will do, taking accountability and being a true partner.

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In an industry that can feel very transactional, we have cultivated an environment that’s taken a different approach. A significant number of our clients have come to us through referrals and word of mouth. I am incredibly proud of that as it speaks volumes about how we operate, what is important to us and the strength of our values.

It’s important to have honest conversations and really listen to what actually matters to the person or department you are speaking with, so that a truly valuable screening solution can be provided. Not just one that looks good on paper, but one that works in practice.

The journey of finding an amazing background screening solution for your business starts here, with our team of differing characters, differing skill sets but truly aligned values.

At Verifile, our values aren’t just something we hang on a wall. Putting People First is how we operate. What does that mean? It means it’s above and beyond the sale.

Whether I’m speaking to a new client or someone we’ve partnered with for years, trust and respect, and ultimately business growth, come from treating customers like people, not transactions, not targets, not “leads.” Sharing the journey and giving more.

It’s not about being flawless, it’s about being human. It’s about being honest, taking responsibility, and doing what we say we’ll do. That’s what Own It means to us. It’s easy to be present when things are going well. But trust is built when you answer the call late in the day, do extra work on the weekend because you care about the solution, chase down responses that aren’t technically “your job,” or stay in the conversation even when it gets uncomfortable. That’s when people realise you’re not just there for the win but because you care and are passionate. There are easier ways of doing a job, but you get out what you put in. In life, in work. In everything.

Active listening is key as it enables you to be tuned in to what’s really being said… and also what isn’t. That’s where Be Curious really matters. It’s not about asking more questions; it’s about asking better ones, deeper ones, sometimes humorous ones. The kind that gets past the surface and into what’s really going on. That’s where the real value is. And more often than not, that’s where real connection starts too.

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What I’ve learned over time is that when you show up as yourself, people notice. They relax and open up. And that’s when trust starts to build. That’s when the work gets real, because now it’s not just about delivering a service; it’s about building something together.

Here’s what a few of our customers have shared recently:

“From our very first meeting with Angie, she has gone above and beyond… always transparent, quick to respond, and truly understood our needs.”
Avery Healthcare Group, May 2025

“Verifile feels like an extension of ourselves and not just an external provider.”
University of Derby, May 2025

“No request was too difficult, no question too small… Angie’s approach was never pushy, always supportive.”
Grove Learning Trust, May 2025

For us, this has never been about chasing numbers. It’s about building something that lasts. It’s about showing up with integrity, staying true to our values, and creating relationships that go beyond the brief.

Our Values Set Us Apart isn’t just a line we use. It’s how we work. We’re not here to play the game. We’re here to change it, one honest conversation at a time.

Accurate data. Meaningful relationships.

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July 21, 2025
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Hiring for Values: Building the Verifile Team from Day One

I’m Harriet Hunt, Talent Acquisition Lead at Verifile, and I’m excited to share how we’ve woven our refreshed values into every step of our recruitment process.

At Verifile, our values aren’t just banners on the wall. They’re the compass guiding every step of our recruitment journey. We often say, “Our Values Set Us Apart,” and nowhere is that more true than in how we attract, assess and welcome new team members. After all, skills can be taught; values-driven behaviours come from the heart.

From the moment a candidate encounters our job adverts, they meet our values in action. We embed our five values - Put People First, Be Curious, Own It, Succeed Together, and Delight Your Customer - into every job description and pre-screening call, inviting applicants to picture not only the tasks ahead but the culture they’d join. We also share clear examples of what “good” looks like so candidates can decide early on whether Verifile is the right fit, helping people self-select into roles where they’ll truly thrive. If our way of working doesn’t resonate, candidates spot it early, saving everyone time and ensuring a strong cultural fit from the start.

Blog-1.png During screenings and interviews, we focus less on hypothetical answers and more on lived experience: real stories of empathy, problem-solving and accountability. We ask: Tell us about a time you dug deeper to uncover the truth. When did you own a challenge and see it through? How have you rallied a team to succeed together?

To support managers, we provide value-aligned interview guides that link each question directly back to one of our five values. That framework keeps every hiring conversation consistent, fair, and focused on the behaviours that matter most.

When we interview, we carefully select the right people to be involved at each stage, those who bring relevant insights from Operations, HR, and the hiring department. This ensures well-rounded perspectives, reduces bias, and gives candidates a deeper understanding of life at Verifile. Our collaborative approach reflects our value of Succeed Together and reinforces that every voice matters.

Blog-2.pngBy embedding values at each touchpoint, from crafting role briefs to designing onboarding journeys, we create consistency and fairness. The clarity managers gain from this values framework frees them to spend less time policing behaviour and more time coaching and developing talent, fuelling growth, innovation, and the exceptional outcomes our customers deserve.

The result? A smoother process, confident hires, and an environment where new colleagues feel at home from day one. Our induction doesn’t just cover systems and procedures; it brings our values to life through real examples and interactive workshops.

And the proof is in the numbers. Since we began measuring in 2023, our candidate Net Promoter Score - from application to first day - has consistently sat at an outstanding +91. Keeping our values and the candidate experience at the heart of everything clearly resonates with those who choose to join us.

Blog-3.pngThe impact is tangible. Teams formed around shared values are more trusting, more innovative and more resilient. We see new hires asking curious questions, stepping up to own their work, and delivering delightful experiences for our customers; the exact behaviours we explicitly champion. Retention improves, collaboration thrives, and Verifile’s culture grows stronger with each addition.

Recruitment at Verifile isn’t a box-ticking exercise; it’s an opportunity to reinforce who we are. By prioritising values over pure credentials, we ensure that every colleague enriches our promise of Accurate data. Meaningful relationships. And that’s how we keep raising the bar - one values-driven hire at a time.

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July 14, 2025
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Be Curious: An Operations Spotlight

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If the old saying “curiosity killed the cat” holds any truth, then here in Operations, we’re not afraid to live on the edge! At Verifile, being curious is about looking beyond the surface, questioning everything, and constantly seeking better ways to serve our customers and candidates.

More Than Just an Order Number

Within Operations, we live by the belief that every candidate we screen is more than just an order number. This echoes our value to Put People First, reminding us that behind each screening request is a person eager to start (or continue in) their role, and an employer looking to build a trusted, effective workforce. It also involves data sources, referees, academic institutions, third-party screening partners, and so much more. Each piece contributing to the bigger picture.

We're over twenty years into our journey, yet we remain as inquisitive and driven as ever, consistently pushing ourselves to find better approaches, solutions, and outcomes

The Drive to Question, Challenge, and Improve

Our history at Verifile is steeped in the importance of “Checking Facts” and ensuring Accurate Data. A principle that evolved into our current motto, “Accurate data. Meaningful relationships.” It’s no surprise, then, that Be Curious is part of our values set. Curiosity here means never taking information at face value. If something seems off, we dig deeper. We connect the dots, compare what a candidate declares against the raw data, and make sure everything lines up.

By embracing a “Be Curious” mindset, we’ve uncovered countless discrepancies over the years, ranging from fraudulent academic claims to entirely fabricated references . These breaches of honesty and integrity would be impossible to catch if we relied on an automated, box-ticking approach, which is why we proudly call ourselves “data nerds”. We dive into every reference, academic record, and detail to ensure we connect the right dots for our clients. Our human touch and willingness to ask why? or why not? sets us apart, helping us safeguard our customers’ hiring decisions.

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Living Our Values, Not Just Listing Them

When we recently refreshed our core values, we wanted more than buzzwords; we wanted principles that reflect how we truly operate. For us, curiosity fuels innovation, helps us Own It when tackling challenges, and ties back to Delight Your Customer by uncovering insights that protect and empower them. We’re over twenty years into our journey, yet we remain as inquisitive and driven as ever, consistently pushing ourselves to find better approaches, solutions, and outcomes.

We’ve also seen tangible benefits of this mindset. Our recent PBSA accreditation and celebrating a King’s Award show how our commitment to curiosity and accuracy sets a new standard in our industry.

We live by the belief that every candidate we screen is more than just an order number

Staying Relevant in a Changing World

News headlines continue to reveal how misrepresentations can slip into the recruitment process - whether they involve high-profile figures or not - and highlight that verifying personal histories and qualifications is still as crucial today as when Verifile began.

Our mission to “make the world a more honest and safer place” stands strong, and we’re proud to keep innovating in an ever-changing global landscape.

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Looking Ahead

With our new values guiding us - Put People First, Be Curious, Own It, Succeed Together, and Delight Your Customer - we’re looking forward to what the future holds. Each value supports the others, and curiosity remains a cornerstone of how we deliver the very best for our partners and candidates. By questioning assumptions, connecting data points, and caring about the people behind the order numbers, we continue to raise the bar for background screening and beyond.

We’re excited to keep asking questions, digging deeper, and challenging the status quo for the benefit of all our stakeholders, because at Verifile, curiosity doesn’t kill the cat; it saves the day.

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