Talent is harder to find than ever. But while businesses compete for candidates, they're overlooking a proven source of potential: system-impacted individuals.

People whose lives have been shaped by the care system, the justice system, or unsupported neurodivergence have developed one of the most valuable traits in the workforce: grit. They're resilient, adaptable and determined. Yet hiring processes are designed to filter them out, not welcome them in.

Hiring for Grit is a three-part podcast series from MSL and Bridge of Hope Careers, exploring what grit really is, why it matters for business, and what employers can do to start hiring for it.

Across three episodes, we hear from the people leading the charge to change how employers think about talent. We explore the research behind grit as a predictor of career success, hear real stories of resilience and lived experience, and get into the practical steps businesses can take to open their doors to candidates they've been missing.

This podcast is a companion to the Hiring for Grit research report, based on a survey of 226 working-age individuals, which found that 82% of system-impacted candidates believe their background has cost them a job. The report and podcast together make the case that the barriers holding these candidates back are not structural impossibilities. They're human oversights. And the fixes are simpler than you think.

Whether you're an HR leader, a hiring manager, or someone passionate about building fairer workplaces, this series will challenge how you think about potential, recruitment and what makes a great candidate.

Speakers:

• Ben Read - Managing Partner, MSL UK (Host)

• James Fellowes - Founder, Bridge of Hope

• Chance Bleu-Montgomery - Co-founder, Bridge of Hope

• Sarah Bohn - Founder, Open Space Academy

• James Cartwright - Associate Director, MSL UK