A new Improving Inclusive Recruitment toolkit has been developed for Somerset employers, offering practical guidance on how to make recruitment processes more accessible, fairer and more welcoming. The resource has been shaped by the insights of people with lived experience and produced through work linked to the Somerset Health Determinants Research Collaboration and the Breaking Barriers project.

The toolkit focuses on simple, practical steps employers can take at every stage of recruitment. This includes writing more inclusive job adverts, offering different ways for candidates to apply, making it easier for applicants to request reasonable adjustments, and preparing for more supportive interviews.

It also encourages employers to look more broadly at talent by recognising transferable skills, valuing non traditional career paths and creating a more positive experience for applicants throughout the process.

For businesses looking to widen their talent pool and improve accessibility, the toolkit offers a useful starting point grounded in real experience. It is designed to help employers think differently about recruitment and take practical action that can open up opportunities to more people across Somerset.

This work reflects a growing national conversation around hiring practices and the risk of talented people being overlooked when recruitment processes are too rigid or outdated.

Sedgemoor Chamber of Commerce is encouraging local employers to take a look at the toolkit and consider how small changes in recruitment practice could make a meaningful difference for both their organisation and the wider community.