Driving Gender Diversity Through Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

In financial services—an industry historically lacking gender diversity—two major clients turned to LevelUP HCS to help evolve their recruitment strategies. Through our scalable RPO solution, we partnered with their internal teams to embed inclusive practices across the talent journey.

Over a two-year period, our efforts led to a 22% increase in gender-diverse hiring, including 47% gender-diverse hires in 2023 alone. The success of this partnership was grounded in a focused framework: awareness, accessibility, and action.

Our Inclusive Hiring Framework

Awareness

We began by aligning hiring teams with diversity goals and challenging outdated assumptions. Through DE&I-focused training, we helped hiring managers and HR leaders understand the value of diverse talent—and how inclusive behaviors translate into better hiring decisions.

Accessibility 

LevelUP has actively engaged with underrepresented community and candidate groups, making careers in financial services accessible to a wider demographic. By participating in events like Future CodeHers, our teams have encouraged young women to consider technology and banking careers, emphasizing apprenticeships and growth opportunities. Additionally, the team has provided career guidance to ex-military personnel, further widening the talent pool and breaking down barriers to entry.

Action

Taking proactive steps, LevelUP has collaborated closely with both major financial services clients to integrate diversity and inclusion goals into their recruitment processes. The team has attended over 25 DE&I events with their clients, collectively working to remove barriers and foster an inclusive mindset throughout the hiring funnel. By raising awareness and taking tangible actions, LevelUP and our clients have actively contributed to advancing gender diversity in the financial services sector.

The LevelUP Impact

By combining a customized RPO delivery model with inclusive hiring best practices, LevelUP enabled clients to meet their workforce representation goals—without sacrificing quality, speed, or scalability. Our consistent focus on accountability and access delivered meaningful progress in one of the most competitive hiring markets.