Personnel Checks

What Personnel Checks does

Personnel Checks Limited is a UK government-approved DBS Registered Body (Registration Number 30002500007) operating an online background screening platform for employers, regulated-sector businesses, and individuals. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Blackburn, Lancashire, the company processes over 150,000 criminal record checks annually across Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Volunteer DBS levels, plus adjacent services including Right to Work, DVLA licence, BPSS, SMCR, adverse financial, and Access NI checks. The platform integrates Online ID Verification (OIDV) built on Yoti's computer vision technology, automating applicant identity checks via document upload and facial recognition, and offers a DBS Update Service subscription for continuous certificate monitoring.

The company operates a multi-channel go-to-market combining direct enterprise sales, a self-serve online platform with no contracts or set-up fees, and a sister-company channel (TaxiPlus) targeting taxi and private hire licensing. Revenue is predominantly transaction-based (per check) with a smaller recurring subscription line from the DBS Update Service at £16 per certificate per year. Pricing tiers range from £26.40 (Volunteer) to £79.50 (Self-Employed Enhanced) per check, with government DBS fees passed through. The firm is B-Corp and ISO 27001 certified and serves over 800 Registered Bodies, with a stated 300%+ growth over the past five years.

Personnel Checks operates under PC Group, its parent holding company, alongside wholly-owned subsidiaries TaxiPlus (taxi licensing), Chexx.io (RESTful API platform for embedded screening), and MyCheck (individual Basic DBS portal). In March 2026 the company made its first acquisition, purchasing Manchester-based Know Your Candidate (KYC) in a six-figure deal, adding approximately 2,000 SME clients and a second operational base in Manchester. The same period saw the launch of a direct self-employed DBS service following regulatory change in January 2026, opening a new individual customer segment.

Name

Personnel Checks

Legal name

Personnel Checks Limited

Website

https://personnelchecks.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Personnel Checks is a UK government-approved DBS Registered Body that operates an online background screening platform for employers and individuals, processing 150,000+ criminal record checks annually via transaction-based pricing across healthcare, education, taxi, and financial services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Background Screening Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuous Monitoring & Post-Hire Screening (BPACALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employee Verification & Background Check Coordination (BPAAAIAG), KYC/Client Due Diligence & Participant Onboarding Controls (FSAFAKAF)

Keywords

• Background screening services
• DBS criminal checks
• Pre-employment vetting
• Identity verification
• Compliance screening

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackburn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. DBS Check Processing: Transaction-based fees for processing Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks at various price points. Each check includes government DBS fee plus admin fee. Core revenue stream from criminal record checking services.
2. DBS Update Service Management: Annual subscription service at £16 per year for managing DBS Update Service status checks. Automates certificate monitoring for employers.
3. Online ID Verification: Per-verification fee of £6 for digital identity verification using Yoti technology, optional add-on for DBS check applications.
4. Background Screening Add-ons: Additional checks including DVLA licence checks (£5.50), right to work checks (£7.50), and adverse financial checks (£10.50) offered as supplementary services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Personnel Checks operates a UK government-approved DBS Umbrella Body service, processing Disclosure and Barring Service criminal record checks (Basic, Standard, Enhanced, Volunteer) for employers across regulated sectors via an online platform with integrated digital identity verification. The company extends the core DBS service with complementary background checks (Right to Work, DVLA, BPSS, SMCR, Adverse Financial, Access NI) and operates a Chexx.io API for software integration alongside self-serve portals for individual and self-employed applicants.

Product overview

Personnel Checks operates a unified online background screening platform centred on DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) criminal record checks — offering Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Volunteer check levels. The core DBS Checks Platform serves as the primary product, integrating Online Identity Verification (OIDV) powered by Yoti and the DBS Update Service Status Checks as add-on modules. Beyond DBS checks, the platform offers Right to Work Checks, DVLA Licence Checks, BPSS Checks, SMCR Checks for FCA-regulated firms, Adverse Financial Checks, and Access NI Checks for Northern Ireland. Chexx.io, a RESTful API product owned by parent company PC Group, enables third-party software to integrate with Personnel Checks' screening services. The company also provides a self-service Individual/Basic DBS portal (MyCheck) and a dedicated Self-Employed Enhanced DBS service launched January 2026. Safeguarding advisory content supports safer recruitment across regulated sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TaxiPlus: Sister company providing taxi licensing services including DBS checks for taxi and private hire drivers.
• Chexx.io
• MyCheck

Products and services

• DBS Checks Platform Online platform for UK employers to submit, track, and manage Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Volunteer DBS checks via the government's Disclosure and Barring Service, with results delivered through a unified dashboard including compliance flags and notifications.
• Enhanced DBS Checks Highest-level UK criminal record check showing spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, optional barred-list searches, and relevant police notes, with an average turnaround of 6 days through Personnel Checks; available to employers in regulated activity roles and to self-employed individuals from January 2026.
• Standard DBS Checks In-depth UK criminal record check covering spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings, required for roles in regulated activity such as healthcare, social care, financial services (SMCR), education, and dental; available to employers and self-employed individuals from January 2026.
• Basic DBS Checks Lowest-level DBS check searching the Police National Computer for unspent convictions and conditional cautions; available to any UK employer or individual without eligibility criteria, commonly used for roles outside regulated activity such as taxi licensing, security staff, and general risk mitigation.
• Online Identity Verification (OIDV) Digital identity verification add-on for DBS applications, using Yoti's government-certified technology for document validation and facial recognition selfies; cross-references data against National Fraud Lists, Electoral Roll, PEPs Lists, and Birth/Marriage/Death Registers, with automated population of DBS application forms.
• DBS Update Service Status Checks Annual subscription service at £16 per certificate holder that runs automated online status checks against the DBS Update Service and notifies employers of any changes to certificate status, removing the need to repeat DBS applications; available standalone even for clients not using Personnel Checks for their DBS submissions.
• Right to Work Checks Pre-employment verification service ensuring applicants have the legal right to work in the UK before employment begins, offered alongside DBS checks at £7.50 per check.
• DVLA Licence Checks Driving licence verification checking endorsement records, points, and driving offences held at the DVLA; primarily used for taxi/private hire drivers and logistics employers, priced at £5.50 per check.
• BPSS Checks Baseline Personnel Security Standard pre-employment screening covering identity verification, right to work, and basic criminal record checks for government or security-cleared roles.
• SMCR Checks Background screening checks for Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated firms under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, comprising mandatory Standard DBS checks for senior management functions, Basic DBS for other staff, and complementary adverse financial, international, and sanctions screening.
• Adverse Financial Checks Financial history screening covering bankruptcy, IVAs, CCJs, and other adverse financial information used to assess FCA fit-and-proper criteria in regulated industries, priced at £10.50 per check.
• Access NI Checks Criminal record check service for Northern Ireland analogous to DBS checks, processed through Access Northern Ireland and covering Basic and Enhanced levels for employers operating in or recruiting from Northern Ireland.
• Chexx.io API Platform RESTful API product owned by PC Group that enables third-party software platforms to integrate with Personnel Checks' compliance screening services, normalising data from multiple compliance sources and delivering proactive results via webhooks.
• Basic DBS for Individuals (MyCheck) Self-service portal operated as sub-brand MyCheck enabling individuals to apply for their own Basic DBS check directly, complete the form online, upload ID, and receive the certificate by post or email; priced at £60 including the government DBS fee, admin fee, and online ID verification.
• Enhanced DBS Checks for Self-Employed Dedicated self-service for self-employed professionals (tutors, coaches, carers, nannies) to apply for an Enhanced DBS check directly without an employer intermediary, priced at £79.50 VAT inclusive; available from 21 January 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enhanced DBS checks average 6 days processing time, 2 days faster than national average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• YoticoreTechnology or IntegrationYoti is the Identity Service Provider (IDSP) partnered with Personnel Checks to deliver Online ID Verification. Yoti uses document validation and facial recognition technology for DBS check identity verification. Partnership provides government-certified digital identity verification compliant with UK Digital Identity Trust Framework.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Onfido (Entrust): Now part of Entrust, Onfido provides digital identity verification (KYC and document/facial biometrics) for onboarding and employee screening. Comparable to Personnel Checks' Yoti-powered Online ID Verification (OIDV) module and to the Know Your Candidate acquisition, sharing the identity-verification layer of the screening stack.

Direct peers

• HireRight: One of the largest global background screening providers, offering criminal, employment, education, and right-to-work checks to enterprise employers. Directly comparable to Personnel Checks' background and DBS check offering, with a broader geographic and product footprint.
• Checkr: US-based background screening platform providing criminal, identity, and continuous monitoring checks via API. Closely comparable in business model (tech-led background screening platform with API/webhook integration) to Personnel Checks' DBS tracking platform and Chexx.io API.
• Veremark: UK-based background screening provider focused on automated, API-first criminal, employment, and education checks for HR tech platforms. Comparable to Personnel Checks in target market (UK and international employers) and delivery model (online, automated screening platform).
• Cisive: Mid-sized background screening and compliance firm offering criminal, employment, and regulatory checks to enterprise and government clients. Comparable as a registered screening provider serving regulated industries with similar product set to Personnel Checks' SMCR and BPSS offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Sterling (Sterling Talent Solutions): Large established background screening provider serving enterprise and gig economy employers globally. Comparable as a background-screening incumbent with a similar product surface (criminal, identity, right-to-work, motor vehicle) to Personnel Checks' full suite.
• Pinkerton: Global risk and investigations firm offering background screening, due diligence, and security consulting. Comparable to Personnel Checks in criminal record and pre-employment screening offerings for enterprise clients, at a larger, more diversified scale.
• GBG Group: UK-headquartered identity verification, KYC, AML, and fraud data provider. Comparable in the identity verification and KYC layer of the screening stack, overlapping with Personnel Checks' OIDV module and the recently acquired KYC business.

Regional players

• AccessNI (NI Direct): Government service providing criminal record checks in Northern Ireland, functionally analogous to the DBS. Comparable because Personnel Checks explicitly offers Access NI Basic and Enhanced checks within its UK product suite, making AccessNI the closest regulatory/geographic parallel.

Others

• Yoti: UK government-certified digital identity service provider (IDSP) delivering document validation and biometric facial matching. Comparable because it is a core technology partner for Personnel Checks' OIDV module — an enabling/ecosystem relationship rather than a head-to-head competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dbscheck
• Facebookfacebook.com/PersonnelChecks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/personnel-checks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Personnel Checks