Introduction
Reed.co.uk, commonly called Reed, has been part of the UK jobs landscape for decades. Founded by Alec Reed in 1960, the business grew from a single Hounslow office into a major recruitment group that now combines job listings, training courses, and employer services. Today the site remains a go to for candidates and employers who want a mix of traditional recruitment support and digital job search tools.
What Reed offers jobseekers
At its core, Reed is a jobs marketplace. Jobseekers can search by sector, location, salary, and contract type, upload multiple CVs, set alerts, and apply directly on the site. The platform also hosts Reed Courses, which lists tens of thousands of training options aimed at improving employability and helping candidates meet role requirements. Reed’s help pages explain the application flow, uploading CVs, and managing applications.
How the site works in practice
A candidate searching for a role typically starts with keyword filters and location settings, then narrows results by contract type and salary band. Reed’s application process shows which CV will be sent and allows quick swapping of documents before submission. Candidates can save roles and set email alerts so new matches arrive automatically. For many users these features make Reed a time efficient way to apply to many relevant roles.
Reed Courses and career support
Reed Courses aggregates programmes from hundreds of training providers. At times the platform lists over 70,000 courses across subjects such as accounting, IT, health and social care, and skills for trades. For candidates missing specific qualifications, short vocational courses or accredited certificates through Reed Courses can make the difference between being filtered out by an employer’s requirements and being invited to interview.
Market scale and recent data
Reed publishes regular market reviews that recruiters, journalists, and policymakers use to track hiring. For example, the platform reported more than 108,000 jobs posted in a recent month in 2025, illustrating both the scale of listings and month to month shifts in demand across sectors. Those reports break vacancies down by knowledge domain so readers can see whether IT, health, logistics or another sector is hiring more actively.
What the data is telling us
In 2024 and 2025 Reed’s data attracted attention for two headline trends. First, a sharp reduction in advertised graduate roles has been highlighted by Reed’s leadership and featured in national coverage. Second, hiring has been uneven across sectors: demand remains strong in trades, health and logistics while some entry level office roles have declined. Reed’s statistics are widely cited when commentators discuss youth employment and the changing nature of entry level work.
Why candidates still use Reed
Jobseekers use Reed for practical reasons. The site’s filters, alerts and CV management let applicants apply at scale while staying targeted. Reed’s career advice and courses add a skills layer that some competitors do not bundle in the same way. User reviews on platforms such as Trustpilot and employee feedback on Glassdoor generally describe Reed as accessible and useful, though individual experiences vary.
Employer perspective
For employers Reed provides a simple route to advertise roles and reach active candidates. Smaller businesses benefit from straightforward posting options. Larger employers can combine job ads with CV search tools and promoted listings. Reed acts both as a site for passive job adverts and as an active recruitment partner for hiring campaigns.
Limitations and common criticisms
No single platform is perfect. Reed is primarily UK focused, so candidates hunting for specialist international roles may need global job boards or sector specific sites. Review sites also show mixed feedback on employer experiences and internal culture for parts of the Reed business. For early career candidates the falling number of graduate roles means they must broaden their approach, including apprenticeships, vocational routes, or targeted upskilling.
Practical tips for using Reed effectively
- Create sector specific CVs so each application reads as tailored.
- Use alerts and apply early. Many roles attract hundreds of applicants.
- Take a short course if a job requires a specific certificate. Reed Courses can fast track that.
- Track applications inside your Reed dashboard so you avoid duplicate submissions.
- Network on LinkedIn alongside using Reed. Many hires still come through human contact.
How graduates can pivot
Graduates facing fewer advertised roles should broaden their job search and skill set. Consider short professional courses, internships, micro internships or paid apprenticeships that provide hands on experience. Practical skills in data literacy, basic coding, digital marketing and project support are increasingly valuable across sectors. Reed’s data suggests students should also look beyond traditional white collar entry points into healthcare, logistics and trades where hiring is stronger.
How employers can improve hires on Reed
Employers get better results when job adverts are clear about responsibilities and realistic on experience requirements. Listing essential skills separately from desirable ones, offering a clear application timeline, and considering trained entry level candidates or apprenticeships can widen the candidate pool. Using Reed’s CV search and promoted listings can help reach more applicants, but clear role definition is often the simplest way to improve match quality.
Quick checklist for jobseekers
• Tailor one CV per role type.
• Apply early and track submissions.
• Use Reed Courses to bridge skill gaps.
• Treat applications as conversations: customise cover letters or application answers.
• Keep a record of employers you applied to and follow up when appropriate.
Final word
Reed.co.uk remains a practical, data informed platform for finding and advertising work in the UK. The platform’s size, course listings and market reports make it more than a classifieds site. For candidates, especially those at the start of their careers, pairing Reed’s tools with active skill building and networking will improve prospects in a changing market.