If you’re growing fast or hiring into compliance-heavy roles, you’ve probably asked the question: “Should we keep background checks in-house or outsource to a managed service provider (MSP)?” At first glance, outsourcing feels like the easy answer. At face value, outsourcing can seem like the easier path. Less admin for your team, someone else to chase candidates, and a neat package of results delivered back to you, but dig a little deeper, and it’s not so clear-cut.
For many growing businesses, automated in-house platforms aren’t just a viable alternative, they’re the smarter option. With the right tools, in-house screening can be more efficient and offer more value than traditional outsourcing models.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of each approach and why solutions like Access Screening and Access Onboarded are becoming the go-to choice for businesses that need to move fast and stay compliant.
The traditional route: outsourcing to an MSP
Outsourcing background checks to a third-party provider shifts the workload off your plate. They take over everything from DBS checks, Right to Work, reference chasing, credit reports, even social media screening. You send them a candidate, and they handle the rest. This seems simple, but that's not always the case.
Here’s what most growing companies realise:
- Costs climb quickly: You’re often paying £40–£80+ per candidate—just for a basic screening package. Multiply that across hundreds of hires and you’re into six-figure spend territory fast.
- Timelines stretch: You’re stuck waiting on their process, chasing updates, and delaying start dates while the MSP catches up.
- Flexibility is limited: Need to add a check or adjust a workflow mid-hire? You’ll be met with delays—or extra fees.
- You lose visibility: You can’t see what’s happening behind the curtain. No way to track progress, intervene early, or maintain a consistent candidate experience.
For industries like healthcare, education, or staffing where compliance is non-negotiable and scale is essential, this lack of control becomes a serious liability. Let’s not forget about candidate experience. When onboarding is handed off to third parties, communication gets murky, branding disappears, candidates are left in the dark and that first impression suffers.
The reality of running checks in-house
There’s a lingering myth that bringing screening in-house means more work, more systems and more stress, but that’s only true if you’re doing it manually.
Cloud-based tools like Access Screening and Access Onboarded bring everything under one roof, from DBS and Right to Work checks to adverse media screening using automated, customisable workflows. With Access Onboarded, you can also manage document collection, e-signatures, welcome content, and job-readiness tasks, all within a single branded portal.
What in-house looks like when it’s done right
- Pre-built workflows, fully automated: Set the rules once for each role, assign the candidate and let the platform handle requests, document collection, follow-ups, and results.
- Faster time-to-hire: No waiting on MSP timelines, checks run in parallel, and results come straight into your system, ready to review.
- Real-time visibility and reporting: Track candidate progress from start to finish and export audit-ready reports in seconds.
- More control, lower cost: Say goodbye to per-check pricing, pay a fixed monthly cost that scales with your needs and delivers ROI faster.
- Fully branded candidate experience: Deliver onboarding, contracts, and compliance in one clean portal, fully customised to your brand.
Let’s compare:
| Feature | Outsourced via MSP | In-house with Access Screening |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per candidate | £40–£80+ | Lower fixed monthly fee |
| Speed | Slower – dependent on MSP timelines | Faster – checks run in parallel |
| Admin effort | Low, but blind | Low, with full visibility |
| Flexibility | Limited | High – workflows fully configurable |
| Candidate experience | Generic, third-party | Seamless, branded, controlled |
The verdict
For businesses hiring at scale or operating in compliance-led sectors, the question isn’t whether you can bring screening and onboarding in-house, it’s whether you can afford not to.
Solutions like Access Screening and Access Onboarded give you the control of an internal team with the automation of a managed service. You eliminate delays, reduce the long-term costs, and create a more professional candidate experience.
Ready to Compare ROI?
If you're currently outsourcing checks or managing them manually, it’s worth seeing how automation stacks up. Book a short demo with our team, and we’ll show you how easy it is to modernise your onboarding and screening, without adding to your admin burden.
