How Values-Based Recruitment Can Power Business Growth in the Modern Workplace

Reflections from the East Midlands Chamber People & Skills Conference 2025.

We had an inspiring day at this year’s East Midlands Chamber People & Skills Conference, hosted at Loughborough University, and we were proud to attend as sponsors. The event brought together voices from across the region to explore how recruitment, retention, and workforce development can help drive long-term economic growth - and we were thrilled to be part of that conversation.

Our Head of Business Development & Partnerships, Chris Grocock FRSA FIEP, led a powerful workshop titled “Values-Based Recruitment for the Modern Workplace.”

In a world where flexibility, purpose, and culture increasingly define job satisfaction, Chris unpacked how businesses can recruit people who genuinely align with their mission and values—and how doing so can build stronger, more resilient teams.

What Is Values-Based Recruitment?

Values-Based Recruitment (VBR) is about much more than matching CVs to job specs. It focuses on hiring individuals whose personal values align with those of the organisation—driving culture, engagement, and long-term success.

Key benefits include:

Stronger cultural fit and team cohesion
Higher employee engagement and motivation
Improved retention and reduced turnover
Better service delivery, particularly in people-facing sectors
Workforce future-proofing by attracting purpose-driven candidates

How to Make It Happen

Chris outlined a practical, step-by-step approach to implementing VBR:

Define your core values in clear, observable terms.
Map values to real behaviours—things you can actually see in action.
Train your leadership team and hiring managers in assessing values alignment.
Embed values throughout the recruitment process, from job ads to onboarding.
Use behavioural interviews and realistic job previews to identify alignment early.
Regularly measure success using retention, engagement, and performance data.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While VBR offers major advantages, it’s not without challenges:

Vague values like “integrity” can be hard to assess without clear examples.
Overemphasising “fit” can unintentionally harm diversity and lead to groupthink.
Candidates—especially neurodivergent individuals—may need more transparency about the process.
Organisations must ensure values are truly lived, not just stated.

With the right strategy and structure, though, these challenges can be overcome—and VBR becomes a powerful tool to build engaged, capable, and values-driven teams.

Help Is Out There

One of Chris’s key messages: You don’t have to do this alone.

There is a wealth of free, publicly funded support available to help businesses embed values-based practices and access pre-screened, work-ready talent.

At Futures, we work directly with employers to:

Deliver pre-employment training
Provide free, government-backed recruitment support
Promote inclusive hiring
Help connect employers with local talent and training partners

Final Thought

Recruitment doesn’t just shape your workforce—it shapes your culture, your service, and your future.

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