Dedicated DBS Service Launches for Sole Traders, Personal Employees and the Self-Employed
Self-employed? You can now get an Enhanced DBS check, and we've built a service just for you
If you work for yourself, sorting the right DBS check has never been simple. For years the rules left freelancers, contractors and sole traders stuck with a Basic check, even when the work in front of them clearly called for something more. That has finally changed, and we've built something to make the most of it.
Today we're launching MyCheck, a dedicated DBS checking service created specifically for self-employed people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
What's actually changed
In January 2026, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) introduced a long-overdue reform: eligible self-employed individuals and personal employees can now apply for an Enhanced DBS check through a registered umbrella body. Before that, if you worked for yourself, your options stopped at a Basic check; anything higher had to be submitted by an employing organisation on your behalf. For a private tutor, a sports coach or a carer working independently, that was a barrier to winning work.
The change has opened a new route for thousands of people in sectors like education, childcare, care, coaching and community services, where Enhanced certification is often expected before you can take a job on.
Why we built MyCheck
The legislation opened a door, but we kept speaking to people who were having a nightmare trying to source a DBS check for themselves until they found Personnel Checks. And while we could process DBS checks via our web app, we realised it wasn’t designed for the specific needs of individuals going through the process of DBS application
So we built MyCheck.
MyCheck takes the functionality that we already had in our software infrastructure and packaged it into a service focused entirely on the needs of sole traders, personal employees and the self-employed.
Jack Mellor, CEO of Personnel Checks, put it plainly: "The government's decision to open up Enhanced checks to the self-employed reflects how people genuinely work today. We saw the new route appear, but no one had built anything around the people who'd actually use it. MyCheck takes that uncertainty away; it helps you understand your eligibility, get the right level of check and have someone in your corner throughout."
Who it's for
MyCheck is built for anyone working independently who needs a trusted DBS check, including:
Private tutors and trainers
Sports and fitness coaches
Care professionals and personal assistants
Freelancers and contractors working with children or vulnerable adults
Sole traders who need certification to win contracts
How it works
We've stripped out the complexity that usually comes with background screening:
Check your eligibility first. Our assessment tells you whether you qualify for an Enhanced check before you start, so there are no surprises.
Apply online. Request a Basic DBS check or, where eligible, an Enhanced one through a fully digital application.
Verify securely. Identity verification is handled online, quickly and safely.
Get expert support. Our team is on hand throughout, and pricing is clear from the outset.
Backed by people who do this every day
MyCheck is backed by the expertise of Personnel Checks, one of the UK's established background screening providers and a certified B Corporation. We'll keep supporting employers and organisations through Personnel Checks, while MyCheck focuses entirely on individuals sorting their own certification. This launch is part of how we're responding to the way the modern workforce really operates.
Everyone deserves a simple, trusted route to the right DBS check, whether an employer is involved or not.
Ready to find out where you stand? Head to www.mycheck.co.uk to check your eligibility and start your application.