Unseen Group

Tag: TopScore

  • Case Study: How BT transformed their assessments with the TopScore platform

    Case Study: How BT transformed their assessments with the TopScore platform

    Unseen Client Story

    How BT transformed their assessments with the TopScore platform

    We spoke to Kate Gregory, Early Careers Recruitment Partner at BT about their experience using Unseen’s TopScore platform, the impact of digital assessment and what comes next for their early careers strategy.

    Watch the full client interview
    The story

    A smarter approach to digital assessment

    Kate Gregory works across Early Careers Recruitment at BT, supporting candidates through a modern assessment experience. In this interview, she shares why BT chose Unseen and how the TopScore platform has helped their team deliver a more efficient, accessible and engaging process.

    From the initial transition to digital assessment through to candidate and assessor feedback, we explore what has made the biggest difference.

    “We found the TopScore platform very user friendly, and we felt completely supported by the [Unseen] team.”
    Kate Gregory, Early Careers Recruitment Partner at BT
    94% of BT’s assessors said they were ‘really pleased’ with the platform
    Paperless environment improving sustainability
    Cost savings on travel and hospitality for assessors and candidates
    The interview

    In conversation with Kate

    We asked Kate about BT’s experience with Unseen’s TopScore platform and the future of digital assessment.

    Why did you choose to partner with Unseen?

    Kate: The TopScore platform came highly recommended to us by one of our current external partners. After a couple of demos, it was clear how we could benefit from this platform.

    How did you find the transition from tradition face-to-face assessment to virtual assessment centres?

    Kate: All of our assessment centres before March 2020 were face-to-face, so this transition was huge for us. Also, considering that this was a complete system change for us, the move to a virtual world was much smoother than we’d anticipated. We found the TopScore platform very user friendly, and we felt completely supported by the [Unseen] team.

    What feedback have you had from assessors and candidates?

    Kate: Both assessors and candidates were initially quite nervous about using a brand new platform and moving to the virtual world in general. The feedback since has been really positive, with both parties finding TopScore user friendly and a seamless experience. When we carried out a survey, 94% of our assessors said they were really pleased with the platform.

    What would you say are the key benefits of running digital assessment centres or interviews on one platform like TopScore?

    Kate: There were a range of benefits in running the digital assessment centres and these included moving to paperless environments, cost savings on travel and hospitality for assessors and candidates, and for us, the Early Careers team who run the events, it also facilitated a shorter working day for all parties involved. And finally, we were able to provide candidate feedback reports and also make our own amendments to the materials as needed.

    What are your longer term plans for assessment centres?

    Kate: Our longer term plan is to continue along the route of our virtual assessment centres, but we may look at more of a hybrid approach in the future just based on the needs of the business as well as the candidate accessibility.

    A key takeaway

    Moving assessment online isn’t simply about replicating a face-to-face process digitally. The biggest opportunity is to rethink the experience around what candidates, assessors and recruitment teams actually need.

    As expectations around digital recruitment continue to evolve, organisations need assessment technology that works for everyone involved. For BT, the TopScore platform is helping make that experience simpler, more flexible and more effective.

    Want to talk about your assessment process?

    Whether you’re exploring digital assessment for the first time or looking to improve an existing process, our team can help you understand what’s possible with Unseen.

  • Report download: The Science of Assessment Centres

    Report download: The Science of Assessment Centres

    The Science of Assessment Centres
    Part of Unseen’s ‘The Science of…’ series

    The Science of Assessment Centres

    How to deliver better assessment centres through technology and behavioural science.

    Free download

    Get instant access

    Fill in your details to download the full report.

    What’s inside

    Three things the report covers

    Assessment centres influence some of the most important decisions organisations make — who they hire, promote and invest in.

    Learn how, by combining evidence-based assessment principles with behavioural science insights, you can create assessment experiences that are more engaging for candidates, more manageable for assessors, more scalable for organisations, and more defensible from a fairness and validity perspective.

    01

    How behavioural science shapes assessment centre quality, and what that means in practice

    02

    Key principles from behavioural science you can apply to how your assessment centres are designed and run

    03

    The tools you can use to give your assessments psychological defensibility

    “

    The best assessment centres draw on both occupational psychology and behavioural science.

    Ben Williams, Chief Scientist, Unseen Group

    Read the full report

    Discover how to deliver better assessment centres through technology and behavioural science.

    Download free ↑
  • Case Study: How National Grid streamlined their Early Careers assessment centres with TopScore

    Case Study: How National Grid streamlined their Early Careers assessment centres with TopScore

    Client logo
    TopScore logo
    Utilities & Energy

    How National Grid streamlined their Early Careers assessment centres with TopScore

    Supporting graduate, apprenticeship and social mobility assessment centres with a simpler, more consistent digital assessment experience.

    About the Customer

    Organisation

    National Grid

    Industry

    Utilities & Energy

    Use Case

    Graduate, apprenticeship and social mobility assessment centres

    Scale

    80+ assessment centres delivered annually

    The Challenge

    National Grid’s Early Careers team manages a high volume of assessment centres each year to recruit graduates, apprentices and candidates through social mobility programmes.

    Prior to adopting TopScore, assessment activities were delivered virtually, with processes spread across multiple systems. As the team evolved and scaled, they needed a more structured and reliable way to manage assessment centres while maintaining a positive experience for both assessors and candidates.

    With up to 80 assessment centres delivered annually and multiple stakeholder groups involved in each event, efficiency, consistency and ease of administration became critical.

    “TopScore has just been easy. Easy to use, easy to set up, and easy to manage. It’s become a key part of how we run our assessment centres.”

    The Solution

    Having previously used TopScore in other organisations, members of the National Grid team were confident in its ability to support large-scale assessment delivery.

    Since implementing TopScore in 2023, National Grid has used the platform across:

    Programme

    Graduate assessment centres

    Programme

    Advanced and higher apprenticeship programmes

    Initiative

    Social mobility recruitment initiatives

    Delivery

    Virtual and in-person assessment events

    The team uses TopScore to manage scheduling, assessment scoring, assessor coordination and candidate evaluation, creating a single source of truth throughout the assessment process.

    “We rely on the assessors assessing effectively so it is great for us to have all of the assessor notes and scores in one place.”

    The Impact

    Since implementing TopScore, National Grid has streamlined its assessment centre delivery, reducing administrative complexity and creating a simpler experience for everyone involved.

    The platform has supported improvements across usability, collaboration, scheduling and candidate experience.

    A Simpler Way to Run Assessment Centres

    For National Grid, one of the biggest benefits of TopScore has been ease of use.

    The platform enables assessors and administrators to quickly access schedules, record scores and manage assessment activities without extensive training or technical expertise.

    “It’s just a simple tool that is easy to use. You don’t need too much brain power to be able to use it.”

    Everything in One Place

    Before TopScore, assessment information was distributed across different systems and processes.

    Today, assessor notes, candidate scores and scheduling information are all stored centrally, giving the team confidence in their decision-making and reducing administrative overhead.

    The team uses assessor scores directly to inform hiring decisions, making consistency and visibility essential throughout the assessment process.

    “We don’t have a separate wash-up to calibrate the scores. We rely on the assessors assessing effectively so it is great for us to have all of the assessor notes and scores in one place.”

    Supporting High-Volume Hiring

    National Grid delivers a significant number of assessment centres every year, with volumes regularly reaching more than 80 events.

    TopScore’s scheduling capabilities have helped the team efficiently coordinate large numbers of assessors and candidates, while new functionality allowing multiple assessment centres to run within the same schedule has provided additional flexibility.

    “It’s easy to set up schedules. It’s easy to create new schedules. And now that we have multiple assessment centres that can be done on the same day in the same schedule, that has been great for us this year.”

    Positive Assessor & Candidate Experience

    The majority of National Grid’s assessors are internal stakeholders, making usability particularly important.

    According to the team, assessors have responded positively to the platform and find it straightforward to use during assessment events.

    Assessors have also benefited from TopScore’s accessibility features, language options and digital assessment delivery capabilities.

    “TopScore in terms of its usability for the candidates has been great. You’ve got the accessibility function and the option to where you can change the written and audio language.”

    A Reliable Partner for Assessment Delivery

    Since implementation, National Grid has experienced a smooth rollout and ongoing success with the platform.

    The team continues to use TopScore as a core part of its assessment strategy and recommends it to other organisations looking to improve the efficiency and consistency of their assessment centres.

    “I would definitely recommend it as a tool for any organisation to use.”

    Key Results

    Through implementing TopScore, National Grid has created a more efficient, consistent and scalable assessment process.

    80+ Assessment Centres

    Supporting graduate, apprenticeship and social mobility assessment centres annually.

    One Central Platform

    Scheduling, scoring, assessor collaboration and candidate evaluation managed in one place.

    Reduced Administration

    Less complexity by removing disconnected processes and bringing assessment data together.

    Positive User Experience

    Strong feedback from assessors and candidates using the platform during assessment events.

    Flexible Delivery

    Supporting both virtual and face-to-face assessment centres.

    Consistent Decisions

    Centralised scores and feedback helping teams make confident hiring decisions.

    “TopScore has just been easy. Easy to use, easy to set up, and easy to manage. It’s become a key part of how we run our assessment centres.”

    Conclusion

    Today, TopScore supports National Grid’s Early Careers assessment strategy by helping the team deliver consistent, efficient and candidate-focused assessment centres at scale.

    The platform has improved the way assessment activity is managed by reducing administration, bringing information into one place and creating a smoother experience for assessors, administrators and candidates.

    Through its ease of use, flexibility and ability to support large-scale assessment delivery, TopScore has become an important part of National Grid’s recruitment process.

    80+ Events Annually

    Supporting graduate, apprenticeship and social mobility assessment centres.

    Multiple Programmes

    Used across early careers recruitment initiatives and assessment formats.

    Improved Experience

    Providing a simpler journey for assessors and candidates alike.

    “TopScore has just been easy. Easy to use, easy to set up, and easy to manage. It’s become a key part of how we run our assessment centres.”

    Demo TopScore’s full range of features

    Chat to our team to book your bespoke demo of Unseen’s digital assessment centre platform, TopScore, to see its full range of features and how it can streamline your assessment centres.

  • Case Study: Strengthening Hiring Outcomes for Cooper Parry

    Case Study: Strengthening Hiring Outcomes for Cooper Parry

    Client logo
    TopScore logo
    Financial Services

    Strengthening Hiring Outcomes for Cooper Parry

    In 2024, Cooper Parry implemented TopScore, transforming its early careers assessment centres from a manual, paper-based process into a fully digital, data-driven, and sustainable experience.

    This initiative was driven by a clear ambition: to improve decision quality, enhance candidate experience, reduce administrative burden, and align recruitment practices with B Corp values.

    TopScore was successfully embedded across assessment centres in our professional services teams, delivering measurable impact across efficiency, sustainability, and hiring outcomes.

    About the Customer

    Organisation

    Cooper Parry

    Industry

    Financial Services

    Use Case

    Managing assessment centres end-to-end

    Scale

    Annual efficiency gain of 106 hours of assessor time saved

    The Challenge

    Prior to implementation of Topscore, the assessment centre model was:

    – Heavily paper-based, creating operational inefficiencies and environmental impact

    – Admin-intensive, placing significant strain on recruiters and assessors

    – Inconsistent in evaluation, with decisions often influenced by opinion rather than structured scoring

    – Slow in feedback turnaround, negatively impacting candidate experience

    – Time-heavy, with wash-up sessions taking up to 3 hours

    As early careers hiring scaled, this approach became unsustainable and misaligned with the organisation’s ambition to deliver a modern, inclusive, and high-performing recruitment experience.

    “We didn’t stop recruiting during COVID, but we couldn’t do face-to-face assessment centres.”

    The Solution

    TopScore was introduced as a centralised digital platform to manage assessment centres end-to-end.

    The solution enabled:

    – Real-time scoring and feedback capture in one place

    – Structured, competency-based assessment, improving objectivity and consistency

    – Streamlined wash-up discussions, supported by clear data

    – Removal of paper-based processes, supporting sustainability goals

    – Improved collaboration between assessors, driving better decision-making

    The technology was implemented alongside a broader redesign of the early careers process, ensuring it enhanced both efficiency and experience.

    Impact

    Dramatic Time Savings & Efficiency Gains

    – Wash-up sessions reduced from ~3 hours to 30–60 minutes

    – Post-assessment admin reduced from 2 hours to 40 minutes per assessor

    – Annual efficiency gain of 106 hours of assessor time saved

    This has enabled recruiters and hiring managers to focus on higher-value activity, including candidate engagement and hiring decisions.

    Significant Sustainability Improvements

    – Elimination of paper-based processes saved ~4,000 sheets annually

    – Introduction of digital scoring and reusable materials significantly reduced waste

    These changes directly support the organisation’s B Corp commitments, embedding sustainability into recruitment operations.

    Enhanced Candidate Experience

    – Candidate satisfaction increased to from 4.2 to 4.81/5

    – Faster feedback turnaround and more engaging, structured assessment experience

    – Improved inclusivity, enabling candidates to perform at their best

    The new process has created a more transparent, supportive, and candidate-focused journey.

    Stronger Hiring Outcomes

    – Offer acceptance increased from 86.6% to 92%

    – Assessment centre-to-offer conversion improved to 48%

    – Early careers retention improved to 92% (up from 81%)

    The shift to structured, data-driven assessment has significantly improved both hiring quality and long-term success.

    Strategic Impact

    This initiative has delivered more than operational improvements it has driven a step change in how early careers recruitment is delivered.

    – Decision-making has moved from subjective judgement to data-led assessment, improving fairness and consistency

    – Assessors are more engaged and accountable, with clearer evaluation frameworks

    – Recruitment processes are now fully aligned to organisational values, particularly sustainability and inclusion

    – The model is now scalable and future-ready, capable of supporting continued business growth

    The implementation of TopScore has contributed to the evolution of Talent Acquisition into a modern, insight-led, and high-impact function.

    Why This Deserves Recognition

    This initiative demonstrates how technology, when implemented with clear purpose and strong execution, can transform Talent Acquisition outcomes.

    The impact is clear:

    – Significant time and efficiency gains

    – Meaningful environmental impact

    – Improved candidate experience and engagement

    – Stronger quality of hire and retention

    Most importantly, it has created a sustainable, scalable, and high-quality early careers hiring model, positioning Cooper Parry as a leader in innovative, values-driven recruitment.

    Demo TopScore’s full range of features

    Chat to our team to book your bespoke demo of Unseen’s digital assessment centre platform, TopScore.
    Test its full range of features and see how it can streamline your assessment centres.

  • Case Study: Transforming Early Careers Assessment at Scale for EDF

    Case Study: Transforming Early Careers Assessment at Scale for EDF

    Client logo
    TopScore logo
    Utilities & Energy

    Transforming Early Careers Assessment at Scale for EDF

    EDF is one of the UK’s largest energy providers, recruiting hundreds of early careers candidates each year across graduate schemes, apprenticeships and industrial placements.

    What began as a solution to enable recruitment during COVID has evolved into a long-term strategic platform that underpins assessment centre delivery across EDF’s national early careers programmes.

    About the Customer

    Organisation

    EDF

    Industry

    Utilities & Energy

    Use Case

    Assessing large candidate volumes across multiple programmes

    Scale

    700+ candidates attended assessment centres in 2025 alone

    The Challenge

    When face-to-face assessment centres became impossible during the pandemic, EDF needed a way to continue recruiting at scale without compromising candidate experience, assessment quality or hiring outcomes.

    EDF needed a solution that could:

    – Assess large candidate volumes across multiple programmes
    – Reduce administrative burden and logistical complexity
    – Improve recruitment speed and flexibility
    – Support sustainability goals by reducing travel and paper usage
    – Deliver a positive and consistent candidate experience

    Traditional assessment centres required significant coordination, including venue management, travel arrangements, printed materials and manual scheduling, creating challenges when candidates or assessors changed plans at short notice.

    “We didn’t stop recruiting during COVID, however the environment and our commitment to our Zero Harm safety culture meant face-to-face assessments we not a viable option.”

    The Solution

    EDF implemented TopScore across its Graduate, Apprenticeship and Industrial Placement programmes, creating a central hub for assessment centre delivery and coordination.

    Today, the platform supports approximately 50 assessment centres annually, with up to five centres running per week during peak recruitment periods.

    Impact

    Significant Cost Savings

    Moving away from venue-based assessment centres has substantially reduced operational costs associated with travel, facilities and administration.

    EDF estimates an overall cost reduction of almost 80% compared with traditional assessment centre delivery.

    Flexibility & Reliability

    TopScore has reduced scheduling complexity and made it easier to adapt assessment centres in real time.

    “Using TopScore, we can change timetables at the drop of a hat.”

    EDF also reports exceptional platform reliability.

    “We’ve never had technical difficulties, never had an issue.”

    Enhanced Candidate Experience

    Candidate experience remains a key priority for EDF. Every application is reviewed by a person, ensuring candidates are not excluded through automated screening alone.

    “The point of Early Careers is to nourish talent – we don’t want to lose candidates through an automated AI process with no human interaction.”

    Candidate feedback consistently highlights the platform’s ease of use, clear navigation and smooth assessment experience.

    Sustainability Impact

    Supporting EDF’s sustainability ambitions has been a major benefit of the platform.

    TopScore has enabled:

    – Significant reductions in candidate and assessor travel
    – Fully paperless assessment delivery
    – Elimination of printed assessment materials
    – Reduced environmental impact from assessment centre operations

    “Sustainability is really important to us at EDF.”

    Long-Term Impact

    More than five years after implementation, TopScore remains a core part of EDF’s early careers recruitment strategy.

    The platform continues to support scalable hiring, operational efficiency, improved candidate experiences and sustainability objectives, demonstrating how a solution introduced during a period of disruption became a long-term strategic advantage.

    Key Results

    TopScore has enabled EDF to manage high recruitment volumes more efficiently while maintaining assessment quality.

    In 2025 alone:

    23,000 applications received

    716 candidates attended assessment centres

    192 offers accepted

    EDF estimates that virtual assessment centres save candidates approximately five hours of travel time per person, while enabling recruitment teams to assess more candidates in a shorter timeframe.

    “We can assess 25 candidates over a day much more easily now.”

    Demo TopScore’s full range of features

    Chat to our team to book your bespoke demo of Unseen’s digital assessment centre platform, TopScore.
    Test its full range of features and see how it can streamline your assessment centres.

  • Case Study: How British Airways supported 300 candidates with TopScore

    Case Study: How British Airways supported 300 candidates with TopScore

    How British Airways supported 300 candidates with TopScore

    About the Customer

    Organisation

    British Airways is the United Kingdom’s flag-carrier airline and the largest UK-based carrier by international fleet and destination size.

    Focus Area

    The organisation recruits a significant volume of emerging talent each year across graduate, apprenticeship, engineering, head office, customer operations and regional programmes.

    300

    candidates supported this year alone

    50%

    reduction in assessor time

    20-35

    assessment days annually

    The Challenge

    Prior to implementing TopScore, British Airways relied on a combination of Microsoft Teams, breakout rooms and spreadsheets to manage virtual assessment centres. While functional, the process was highly manual, time-consuming and difficult to scale. Assessors had to manage multiple systems simultaneously, creating additional administration and operational complexity.

    As assessment activity increased following the pandemic, the team recognised the need for a more streamlined, professional and scalable solution that could improve both operational efficiency and the candidate experience.

    British Airways needed a solution that would:

    • Reduce the administration and complexity associated with running assessment centres.
    • Improve the candidate experience through clearer communication and a more professional process.
    • Support high-volume emerging talent recruitment at scale.
    • Enable assessors to collaborate effectively and make informed hiring decisions.
    • Deliver a consistent experience across multiple business functions and locations.

    The challenge was significant. Each year the team runs approximately 20–35 assessment centre days, often operating both morning and afternoon sessions, with between 250–300 candidates invited through the process across multiple schemes.

    Our Solution

    British Airways uses TopScore to manage its emerging talent assessment centres across graduate and apprenticeship programmes.

    The platform supports a wide range of assessment activities, including:

    • Presentations
    • Group exercises
    • Role plays
    • Interviews
    • Technical and practical exercises for engineering candidates

    TopScore is used as the dedicated assessment centre platform alongside British Airways’ existing recruitment system, Manage My Recruitment, which manages applications and vacancy advertising. Once candidates reach assessment centre stage, TopScore becomes the central platform for assessors, scoring, feedback and candidate management.

    “TopScore has been a fantastic tool for our assessment centres at British Airways. The platform is incredibly user-friendly for both candidates and assessors, and the consistency it brings to scoring and wash-ups is invaluable. The ability to provide clear, structured feedback to candidates is a real standout feature and hugely enhances the overall candidate experience. On top of that, the support team is exceptionally responsive, making the whole process seamless from start to finish.”

    – Client feedback

    Scale of Usage

    The platform is used across British Airways’ entire emerging talent offering, including:

    • Head Office
    • Customer Operations
    • Engineering
    • Regional Operations
    • International locations

    Assessors from across the organisation use TopScore, including teams based in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and the United States.

    Implementation

    Implementation was rapid and seamless. Following procurement, British Airways was onboarded quickly and moved from contract signing to running live assessment centres within a matter of months.

    The organisation signed during the autumn renewal period and was successfully using the platform for live assessment centres by January.

    Results

    Impact of implementing TopScore

    One of the most significant benefits delivered by TopScore has been operational efficiency. By replacing manual administration, spreadsheets and complex Teams-based processes, the platform has enabled the recruitment team to manage large-scale assessment centres far more effectively. Assessors have access to one centralised platform for candidate evaluation, scoring and reporting, dramatically reducing coordination effort and administration time.

    “The real cost savings for us are efficiency and time.”

    – Joanne Walsh, Emerging Talent Recruitment Manager at British Airways

    Reduced assessor time by at least 50%

    Thanks to TopScore’s efficient and streamlined marking and feedback functionality. This allows our assessors to focus more on candidate interaction rather than administration.

    300 candidates supported

    Through using TopScore this year alone

    Sustainability benefits

    There are significant sustainability gains, as all assessment materials are hosted within TopScore. This removes the need for printed materials, reducing paper usage while also enhancing data security and confidentiality.

    Candidate Experience Improvements

    TopScore has significantly improved the candidate experience by creating a more professional, structured and supportive assessment journey.The professionalism of the platform, combined with clear communications and technical support, helped create a smoother and more engaging experience for candidates.

    British Airways particularly valued the ability to provide feedback reports to candidates, ensuring that even unsuccessful applicants received meaningful insight from the process.

    Specific Pain Points Solved:

    • Reduced administration and manual effort
    • Improved assessment centre organisation
    • Enhanced candidate communication
    • Delivered a more professional and branded experience
    • Simplified assessor scoring and collaboration
    • Provided responsive technical support
    • Enabled scalable delivery across multiple locations and business functions

    Sustainability & Hybrid Working

    The platform enabled British Airways to successfully transition from virtual assessment centres during and immediately after the pandemic while maintaining consistency and fairness in the assessment process.

    Even after returning to face-to-face assessment centres, British Airways continues to use TopScore for assessor scoring, evaluation and feedback reporting, demonstrating the long-term value of the platform beyond virtual delivery.

    “The ongoing support we receive as an organisation from the TopScore team is always above and beyond, with very quick turnaround times, helpful answers and solutions. Nothing is ever too much trouble.”

    – Joanne Walsh, Emerging Talent Recruitment Manager at British Airways

    Conclusion

    Today, TopScore supports hundreds of candidates and dozens of assessment centres annually, helping British Airways improve efficiency, enhance candidate experience and deliver consistent assessment outcomes across the organisation. The platform’s ease of use, flexibility and outstanding customer support have made it an integral part of the airline’s early careers recruitment strategy, as British Airways now uses TopScore to support:

    • 20–35 assessment centre days annually
    • Multiple assessment centre sessions each day
    • Approximately 250–300 emerging talent candidates per cycle
    • Assessment centres across numerous business functions and locations

    Demo TopScore’s full range of features

    Chat to our team to book in your bespoke demo of Unseen’s digital assessment centre platform, TopScore, to see its full range of features and how they can streamline your assessment centres.