You deserve simpler background checks. Join Zinc today for screening that saves your team time, keeps you compliant, and makes a great first impression.
Trusted with over 2,500,000 checks (and counting)
No-cost integrations with 20+ ATSs and HRISs, set up in minutes
UK right to work checks in 1 minute, on average
Thanks to our automation-first approach, our layered checks run simultaneously to cut down on data entry, return reliable results, and complete faster than average. And no matter what, you still make the final hiring call.
Tired of endless data entry or an inbox full of reference follow-ups? Zinc chases references and sends reminders so you don’t have to. Once results come back, we deliver them straight to your integrated ATS or HRIS so everything’s in one place.
From SMCR to the CQC, Zinc is built for regulated hiring. With pre-built check packages and centralised reports, you’ll never dread an audit again. Plus, our legal, data security, and compliance team is always on hand to answer your questions.
For teams of every size
Whether you’re hiring a little or a lot.
Under 20 hires annually
Get started in minutes. Our Pay As You Grow plan is built for lower hiring volumes — a flat rate per check, with no hidden costs or setup fees.
Start checking in minutes, no setup needed
Flat rates per check, no hidden fees
Pay only for what you check, every month
20+ hires annually
For larger volumes, our experts build a plan around your needs. Credit is flexible with your hiring and never expires, with integrations, setup, training, and support all included for free.
A custom plan built around your hiring
Credit pool that rolls over and never expires
Integrations, setup, and training included for free
9.2
/10
Candidate rating
65
%
Checks return near-instant results
195
countries
Supported for hiring
Stay compliant with pre-built packages, a single central record, and tech-first checks.
No-cost integrations
Personalised, automated candidate journey
Automated rechecks for stronger compliance
Tech-led checks, human decisions
No room for error.
“Being FCA regulated we have no room for error with our checks. Zinc is our go-to for DBS & RTW checks with lightning fast turn-around times, zero admin, and maintaining a best in class candidate experience.”
Total peace of mind.
“With Zinc handling our background checks, we have full confidence in the process. We know everything is being tracked, and we’ll be alerted right away if anything needs our attention.”
A true partnership.
“Numan’s scaling very quickly, and Zinc has allowed our team to stay quite small. We’ve got a lot of automations, and Zinc takes the heavy lifting away.”
Get tailored solutions for your industry and company size.
Financial services
Automated checks for FCA-regulated teams, from first hire to annual SMCR rechecks.
Education and childcare
Safeguarding checks for schools, nurseries, and early years providers.
Utilities and energy
Risk-tiered checks for field engineers, control room operators, and critical infrastructure staff.
Technology
Secure, scalable background checks for UK and global tech teams hiring at speed.
Hospitality and retail
Mobile-first background checks built for high-volume, fast-turnover frontline hiring.
The system links with our recruitment and HR systems so all checks and paperwork %%sync automatically%% — saving us so much time not having to check multiple systems.
It automates the screening of new employees and integrates well into our ATS and HRIS. We add a new hire to onboarding and it %%automatically links with Zinc%%, then uploads to HiBob once complete.
Zinc is fast and efficient, which significantly reduces my manual work — and the customer service is amazing. The initial setup was fantastic, with an account coordinator ensuring a %%smooth and easy transition%%.
We've set up different packages for different job roles, so checks are %%automatically sent to candidates when they're hired%%. It's transformed our onboarding — super user-friendly, clear, and easy to read.
Checks come back quickly, so most new hires have the majority done before they start — giving us %%confidence about them joining%% and time to address any surprises.
%%One-click requests%% — criminal history, right-to-work, and financial checks initiated directly from our ATS, with automated follow-ups so we're not chasing referees all day.
Integrations
Zinc integrates directly with your HR tech stack at no additional cost. Our 20+ ATS and HRIS integrations keep all your background checks in the same place, and most can be set up in minutes with no technical support.
Want something more custom? Build directly with Zinc’s open API or set up an integration via Zapier.
Background checks
Whether you’re just checking the basics or hiring for highly regulated roles, we have all the checks you need to stay compliant.
Talk to our team today to build a custom background checking plan for your organisation, no matter how complex.
Everything you need to know
How long do Zinc’s pre-employment checks take?
It depends on the check, but 65% of our checks return instant or near-instant results.
Identity, right to work, and address checks typically complete in minutes. References take a little longer: our mean turnaround is just over a day, though that depends on how quickly referees respond. We chase them so you don't have to.
From the moment a request is sent, Zinc sends candidates automatic reminders by email and SMS across up to nine touchpoints, and referees get up to five automated chasers. You can track exactly where things stand from your dashboard, with projected completion dates updated in real time.
Some checks take longer by nature. Enhanced DBS checks average 14 days, and institution-verified education checks can take longer.
View all of Zinc’s live turnaround times here, or see our country-by country education check times.
Can I start a new hire before their checks are complete?
In the UK, you’re legally required to confirm right to work and have your statutory excuse in place before someone’s first day, regardless of their role or sector.
For other checks like DBS or references, it's more nuanced. Many employers allow a conditional start in lower-risk roles, with checks wrapping up in the first week. If you're in a regulated sector — care, education, finance — speak to your compliance lead before making that call.
Zinc gives you visibility over candidate start dates and check statuses. Projected completion dates and real-time status updates mean you're never left guessing what's outstanding or accidentally non-compliant.
Do I need a dedicated HR team to manage background checks with Zinc?
Zinc is built for team of all sizes, whether they’re exclusively running onboarding journeys or wearing multiple HR hats.
Once your check packages are set up, we take over. Candidates get automatic reminders by email and SMS, and we chase referees up to five times to ensure a response. We’ll let you know if something needs your attention, but otherwise you can follow along with check progress from your Zinc dashboard.
Your job is to make the final decision on hiring, which always stays in your hands. If there are any flags, we’ll explain them clearly.
How does Zinc’s pricing work?
Zinc offers two options: Pay As You Grow for teams hiring less than 20 candidates a year, and custom contracts for teams with larger hiring volumes.
On Pay As You Grow, we’ll show you transparent pricing in the platform when you build a check package so you know exactly what you're paying before you run anything. You only need to add a payment card to sign up, and you're not charged until your first check.
If you cancel a check request before a candidate has started, no charge applies. If they've already begun, you'll be charged for checks already underway.
For custom contracts, you’ll have a pool of credit to draw on so you can flex your hiring as needed with discounted check rates. It never expires, and rolls over from year to year. If you need more, you can just top up your account and carry on as normal.
No matter what, there are no surprises on your invoice. Zinc doesn’t charge extra fees for integrations, set up, or training. You only pay for the checks you run.
Can Zinc run checks on candidates based outside of the UK?
Yes. Zinc supports background checks for international candidates, including criminal record checks, identity verification, address checks, right to work checks, employment references, and more. View a complete list of the checks we offer here.
Zinc’s automated checks use region-specific data capture, so candidates only enter country-specific information. Layered checks adapt automatically to local hiring regulations, and our AI chatbot offers candidates support in 200+ languages.
Zinc also accepts country-specific document types for right to work checks globally, not just passports.
In India, candidates can submit an Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, or OCI Card. In the Philippines, a Unified Multi-Purpose ID or Professional Regulation Commission ID are accepted. In Saudi Arabia, foreign nationals can use a valid Iqama. Each country has its own document list built into the platform, so candidates are shown exactly what's accepted for their jurisdiction.
Where a document is valid proof of right to work but can't be verified digitally — which is common with national ID cards in some markets — Zinc acts as a secure document collection tool. The candidate uploads the document through the platform, and you review it manually against local requirements. The check returns a Consider result to flag that human review is needed, rather than blocking the process, so you can hire with confidence faster.
