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Home > Case Studies > Global Construction Screening: How Mace Scaled Worldwide
When global construction specialist Mace expanded operations across 40+ countries, their existing pre-employment background screening and employee vetting processes became a critical bottleneck. High-volume construction recruitment for simultaneous large-scale projects, combined with stringent BPSS clearance compliance requirements for government work, created operational challenges that threatened project timelines and costs.
Our Matrix Security Watchdog solution transformed Mace’s approach to candidate vetting and onboarding, delivering real-time visibility, automated compliance checks, and seamless integration with existing HR systems. The result: significantly reduced turnaround times, enhanced compliance confidence, and freed HR capacity for strategic initiatives.
As Mace’s footprint expanded into over 40 countries, their existing pre-employment screening simply couldn’t keep up. As is common in sectors like construction, high-volume hiring for simultaneous, large-scale projects placed a heavy burden on manual reference checks and document gathering, leading to bottlenecks just when speed and agility were most needed.
Like many companies in the construction industry, Mace faced the complex challenge of implementing consistent background checks and employee vetting standards across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining the speed required for construction recruitment.
Disconnected systems offered HR and hiring managers little visibility or control, making it difficult to track candidate progress or flag potential risks early. At the same time, Mace had to uphold minimum BPSS standards for government-related projects and satisfy growing client demands for transparent, auditable hiring practices, all without compromising candidate experience or their employer brand.
Their goal was clear: maintain the highest standards (including BPSS-level checks for government projects) whilst giving HR and hiring managers a single source of truth.
Working side-by-side with Mace’s HR and people operations teams, we deployed an end-to-end background screening and employee vetting platform that delivered:
A single dashboard showing each candidate’s progress, from ID verification to final clearance.
Including BPSS-level checks automatically tailored to project requirements.
Easy data exchanges with Mace’s existing HR systems, document handling, and audit-ready documentation, and connecting with Konfir for instant employment verification
A personal point of contact for applicants, ensuring they move smoothly through the process and experience Mace’s employer brand at its best.
By automating manual references and flagging potential clearance issues before mobilisation, Matrix Security Watchdog freed Mace’s HR professionals from paperwork and firefighting. For roles requiring government-level clearance, the platform has significantly cut turnaround times, translating directly into fewer hold-ups on site and better cost control.
Hiring managers now get full visibility via a single, intuitive dashboard; candidates benefit from a consistent, supportive journey, and compliance evidence is generated automatically—no more chasing files or ad-hoc audits. HR teams are freed from routine screening tasks, allowing them to concentrate on strategic people work.
In a highly regulated, high-trust sector, demonstrating end-to-end, auditable hiring practices is non-negotiable. With Matrix Security Watchdog, Mace can now show stakeholders clear audit trails, consistent global standards and a culture of safety from day one.
Streamlined BPSS clearance processes and standardised background checks across all jurisdictions, ensuring consistent employee vetting standards for government and private sector projects.
Our partnership doesn’t end at launch. We meet regularly with Mace to review service performance, share insights and refine the process. This collaborative rhythm ensures that as Mace’s projects evolve, so does our service to them, keeping Matrix Security Watchdog always responsive and always pragmatic.
“Matrix Security Watchdog has given us real-time visibility and the confidence to manage risk proactively, rather than constantly reacting to last-minute issues. Screening may not be the most glamorous part of workforce planning, but it’s one of the most critical. It’s the foundation for trust, safety and performance and it underpins the quality we strive for in every project.” – Anne Woolcott, Employee Relations Operations Director, Mace
In a highly regulated, high-trust sector, demonstrating responsible, end-to-end hiring practices is non-negotiable. Matrix Security Watchdog provides Mace with clear evidence of compliance across borders and roles, underpinning trust, safety and performance in every construction project.
The transformation extends beyond operational efficiency to strategic capability building. By automating routine processes and providing real-time visibility, Mace can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional projects whilst building the talent pipeline needed for future growth.
BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) clearance is a pre-employment screening standard required for individuals working on UK government contracts. For construction companies like Mace working on government projects, BPSS clearance ensures that all personnel meet minimum security requirements, including identity verification, employment history checks, and criminal record screening. This clearance is essential for accessing government sites and maintaining contract compliance.
Traditional construction background checks can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks, depending on the complexity of roles and jurisdictions involved. For companies operating globally like Mace, this timeline can extend further due to varying international requirements. With automated screening solutions like Matrix Security Watchdog, these timelines can be significantly reduced while maintaining compliance standards.
Global construction companies face several key challenges:Inconsistent standards across different countries and jurisdictionsManual processes that create bottlenecks during high-volume hiringLimited visibility into candidate progress across multiple locationsComplex compliance requirements for government projects requiring BPSS clearanceDifficulty tracking and auditing screening processes across global operations
Construction companies can enhance their employee vetting by:Implementing automated screening platforms that provide real-time visibilityUsing role-specific screening packages tailored to project requirementsIntegrating screening systems with existing HR technologyEstablishing consistent global standards while accommodating local compliance needsProviding dedicated candidate support to maintain employer brand during the screening process
When selecting a global background screening solution, construction companies should prioritise:Real-time dashboard visibility for hiring managersAutomated compliance checks for multiple jurisdictionsIntegration capabilities with existing HR systemsRole-specific screening packages including BPSS clearance optionsAudit-ready documentation for regulatory complianceDedicated candidate management to protect employer brandScalability to handle high-volume hiring across multiple countries
Automated screening solutions reduce project delays by:Eliminating manual bottlenecks in the hiring processFlagging potential issues early before site mobilisationProviding real-time progress tracking for hiring managersStreamlining compliance documentation to avoid last-minute delaysReducing turnaround times for government-level clearancesFreeing HR capacity to focus on strategic hiring initiatives rather than administrative tasks
Matrix appoints Neil Jones as CEO, bringing 20+ years of global workforce management experience and marking a new chapter in the company’s growth.
A complete BPSS screening guide covering the process timeline, compliance requirements & best practices. Essential for UK government staff and contractors.
Matrix’s agile workforce management platform optimises compliance, cost visibility and contingent labour engagement and now it’s been recognised for innovation,
“Our hiring managers have better visibility. Our candidates experience a smoother journey. And our HR teams are free to focus on strategic people work, not chasing paperwork. The Matrix Security Watchdog screening platform, combined with role-specific screening packages and integrated tools like Konfir, has transformed how we vet candidates across our global operations.”
