Talent Recruitment is to launch a scheme that will track candidates’ sexuality and religious beliefs in an attempt to prevent potential discrimination claims.

Chief executive Jonathan Baldrey said the initiative was necessary to comply with legislation outlawing discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and religion that came into force in 2003.

From February all applicants to the agency will fill out an online form asking them about their sexuality and religion and whether they wish the information to be passed on to an employer.

“In a tribunal, not knowing about somebody’s sexuality is not a defence. We ask in a sensitive way if candidates can give us this information,” said Baldrey.

Candidates can choose from a range of options to describe their sexuality, including heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, transsexual or other. There is also a list of religions to choose from.

The information would only be used as a management tool to allow consultants to deal with the applicants sensitively, Baldrey said.

He is also considering tracking the sexuality of Talent’s own staff in the same way. Potential consultants already go through a diversity screening process that challenges them to overcome prejudices.

Baldrey claimed that having a robust diversity policy could improve an agency’s chance of winning new business and was also crucial for agencies wanting to win places on preferred supplier lists or tendering for contracts. “The days of employers wanting agencies who only supply blue-eyed blonde South African temps are over,” he said.

Talent Recruitment is sponsoring the Recruiting Diversity conference held in London on 9 and 10 February.