London, UK – 17th January 2022: Post Office and Yoti have announced the availability of their digital identity apps – in response to the – now permanent – UK Government policy change regarding the use of Digital Identity for Right to Work as well as Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks.
From April 6th 2022, UK Citizens looking to start a new job will be able to prove their Right to Work with Post Office EasyID and Yoti digital identity apps. They will also be able to use their digital identity to apply for their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks online.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation conservatively estimates that its member recruitment businesses conduct around 300,000 RTW checks every week, highlighting the potential time and administration cost saved with digital IDs offering instant, paper free identity verification.
The acceptance of digital identity comes as a result of a successful use of remote policies during Covid. With evidence of increased efficiency, reduced recruitment times and getting people into jobs faster, these remote policies have streamlined processes for both job seekers, employers and landlords. It has also reduced travel costs for new recruits and enabled a wider pool of applicants to apply for roles and reduce geographic barriers to employment and housing. The new policy allows for all the benefits but with enhanced customer experience and security of digital identity.
EasyID and Yoti are free digital identity apps designed to make it simpler and safer for people to prove who they are, both online and in person. Individuals add their ID document and facial biometrics in a few minutes and have a verified, reusable digital identity that protects their details and can be used in a wide range of scenarios. Individuals no longer have to copy, send and share their ID documents, while businesses can be confident people are who they say they are.
EasyID enables individuals to securely share a verified image of their passport with their Digital Identity that enables an employer to store the image and meet the Home Office requirements for ‘statutory excuse’. Also an individual can share their ID and document at a time of their choosing, making the service more convenient.
To date, over 2.6m people have joined the Post Office digital ID network with Yoti – including 1 in 5 of the UK’s 18-year-old population. The apps are already accepted by a wide range of organisations including the Jersey Government, Scottish Improvement Service, The NHS, Virgin Atlantic, NSPCC, convenience stores and many more.
Elinor Hull, Identity Services Director at Post Office said: “This is a landmark moment for the recruitment sector and their successful candidates who can now prove their identity quicker than ever before and potentially start their employment sooner. Using our free EasyID app candidates can prove their ID and right to work to their new employer or to apply for a DBS check at the time most convenient for them. Alternatively, if they prefer they can come into one of over 3,000 Post Offices where our Postmasters can use the same technology and help confirm their identity for their DBS check.”
John Abbott, Chief Commercial Officer at Yoti said: “Together with Post Office, we are transforming the way that people prove their identity in the UK removing friction from ID processes online and reducing the risk of succumbing to identity fraud. Everyone connected to the recruitment chain can now be assured that their employees are genuine, building transparency and trust.”
Notes to editors
About Post Office
With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
Post Office EasyID launched on 23rd August 2021 for a variety of in-person and online proof of ID uses. For more information about Post Office EasyID, visit https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/easyid
For Post Office: karim.aziz@postoffice.co.uk
About Yoti
- Yoti is a digital identity technology company that allows organisations to verify identities and trusted credentials online and in person.
- Yoti’s products span identity verification, age verification, document eSigning, access management, and authentication.
- Yoti’s digital ID app is accepted as proof of identity in over 30,000 UK High street locations including cinemas, Post Offices and convenience stores.
- In 2021 Yoti partnered with Post Office to deliver the UK’s most comprehensive identity service. Post Office EasyID app is interoperable with the Yoti digital ID app.
- Over 11 million people have downloaded the free Yoti app globally (3million in the UK). Yoti is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian.
- Yoti is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 for ID Verification Services, ISAE 3000 (SOC 2) Type 2 certified for its technical and organisational security processes.
For Yoti: press@yoti.com