Matt Darling has been named director for talent acquisition, learning and development at BIP UK. The news will see him work to embed diversity and inclusion throughout the firm’s recruitment process in the UK, as it looks to attract and retain new talent.
“Diversity and inclusion isn’t just a priority, for us it’s a non-negotiable,” said Matt Darling. “We are redesigning our hiring experience to ensure we are building a business that truly reflects the diverse world we operate in. From how we advertise roles to the way we assess candidates, we are making meaningful changes that will create lasting impact.”
Diversity and inclusion policies aim to ensure individuals from all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives are able to access opportunities in the workplace. The policies have been the recent target of the second Trump administration, which has sought to ban the practice from public bodies, while arguing it should be illegal more broadly. Many corporations have taken the chance to divest from practices they were evidently not that interested in in the first place – but in the UK, some are taking a stand to point out that they are still open to everyone.
With 5,500 employees globally, BIP UK is currently embarking on a significant expansion plan, welcoming numerous new professionals in the coming year. At the heart of this transformation, the firm has been clear that it will retain a commitment to diversity and inclusion – and will rethink its entire talent acquisition process to ensure diversity and inclusion is embedded at every stage, from attraction and assessment to hiring and retention.
The arrival of Darling will be important for those plans. Having previously led recruitment across Europe at Accenture before joining TTEC, he brings extensive experience in talent acquisition. When the time came to join BIP UK, he saw “a unique opportunity to shape BIP UK’s hiring strategy at a time of exciting growth”, at a firm which “recognises that a diverse workforce is essential to driving the company forward, and this principle is shaping the way it identifies and nurtures talent.”
A key element of BIP UK’s new roadmap is transitioning much of the firm’s recruitment process in-house, reducing reliance on external outsourcing. To support this, Darling will be expanding the talent acquisition team by hoping to bring in specialists to help streamline operations and meet ambitious hiring targets. In addition to structural changes, BIP UK is also addressing the evolving pressures within talent acquisition, particularly those brought about by rapid advancements in AI and recruitment technology.