Michael Blakley

Equitas

Creating faster, fairer hiring with Equitas. Our inclusive interview software and dynamic interview frameworks allow companies to run their interview and assessment process with a simple, intuitive and structured approach to interviewing, assessing and selecting candidates. 

We are changing the way people assess with a focus on reducing interviewer and assessor bias, improving accuracy and making the assessment process more efficient and cost-effective. Currently working with some of the biggest healthcare providers in Ireland and the UK.

Co-Founder

Freedom Recruiting

Founded a recruitment agency in 2012 focusing on primary contract with ALDI as my first client. Worked on freelance contracts as an interview and assessment specialist with BSkyB, MOJ, Home Office & TFL. Completed over 10,000 interviews and assessments with both FTSE 100 companies and the Public sector. A selection of clients are listed below:


Ministry of Justice
 
•	Delivered high volume recruitment campaigns to help recruit over 7000 Prison Officers and over 1000 Probation Service Officers
•	Resourced, led and managed a team of 20 assessors across three HMP locations
•	Assessed complex role-plays using professional actors
•	Assessed and interviewed on HMP Graduate Fast Track Scheme
•	Lead assessor for HMP Graduate written and IT tests
•	Developed best practice guide for written test invigilation
•	Delivered and implemented a new IT system for HMP assessment centre
•	Trained both assessors and internal HMP staff on the new equipment and software
•	Compiled an IT manual for the recruitment department
•	IT integration resulted in a cost-saving of over £100,000 per year


BSkyB

•	Delivered hundreds of assessment centres and interviews for BSkyB for their high volume recruitment campaigns for call centres and engineering across UK
•	Executed quality assurance and materials training to over 15 BSkyB assessors, in order to promote continuous improvement of their recruitment process
•	Weekly updates with BSkyB leadership team to ensure their requirements are fully met and that each team exceed client expectations


ALDI Stores LTD

•	Formulated a recruitment strategy for ALDI NE region to meet their exponential growth strategy
•	Worked in partnership with ALDI to develop and deliver their attraction, telephone screening, open days, assessment centres, interviews, work trials, contract signing and exit interviews
•	Recruited over 100 new ALDI starters in one year
•	A retention rate of over 70% for new starters in the first year (previously 40%)

Founder

Havas People

Assessment Consultant with Havas People. Focused on high volume recruitment campaigns.

Associate Assessment Consultant

Hays

Recruiting on high volume, graduate campaigns through to director level.

Associate Assessment & Recruitment Consultant

Transport for London

Associate Recruitment & Assessment Consultant with TfL. Working on high volume recruitment campaigns. Delivering hundreds of high volume assessment centres.

Assessment Consultant

ALDI Stores

ALDI Graduate Area Manager Scheme

•	Managed 5 Stores and over 90 members of staff, with annual turnover of over £25m
•	Successfully trained, coached, motivated and mentored a team of 14 Managers
•	Involved with managing risks and delivering new products to market
•	Managed high volume recruitment campaign
•	Self-developed own business acumen, time management and prioritising workload
•	Responsible for sales increase of 42% resulting in 80% increase in staff
•	Developed and implemented weekly global diary organiser for over 80 Store Managers within North East region
•	Reduced inventory losses by 55%

Area Manager

Co-founder at Equitas | Interview intelligence software to ensure fair hiring

Co-founder of Equitas, inclusive interview intelligence software designed for fair hiring and helping companies build diverse teams. 

In a previous life I was a professional interview and assessment expert, designing and delivering recruitment, assessment, and interview campaigns for the likes of BSkyB, Aldi, TfL, and MoJ from entry-level hires through to C-suite. 

After 10,000+ interviews conducted across UK & Ireland, knew there had to be a better way, so set up Equitas. Working with the biggest employer in Ireland (HSE) and some incredible clients who are passionate about fair hiring, decentralised hiring, hybrid interviewing and DEI. 

Outside of work and HR tech startups talk to me about:

🏃‍♂️ Long-distance running

🥋  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

♟  Chess

🦮  Guide Dogs

Six more epic founders to follow in the TA, DEI and HR Tech space... 


Dave Owen  from ditto talent loaning. Why stop at footballers when you can loan all of your talent via ditto. 


Lucy Killerby MCIPD at Talent Spaces DEI done right when it comes to hiring. 


Gabi Preston-Phypers 🦝 at Tooled Up Raccoons the expert in sourcing and free Racoon for any new customer. 


Ben Keighley at Socially Recruited the experts in attraction via social, plus I love their LinkedIn ads... 


Sam Dhesi, MD at Popp AI  everyone is talking about AI but doing it well for volume hiring is the game changer. 


Daniel Fellows at Get-Optimal.com  job ads optimised for DEI and SEO. Job ads is where all great hiring starts. 


If you find this weekend ones useful for seeing what's out there comment and let me know and I'll keep doing them! 


#FairHiring #Interviews #Recruitment

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