UK Recruitment Glossary
Equity / Share Options
In recruiter context
UK employers mostly use EMI (Enterprise Management Incentive) schemes for tax-efficient options at startups, CSOPs for larger companies, and RSUs (restricted stock units) at US-listed firms. Standard vest is 4 years with a 1-year cliff: nothing vests if you leave before year one, then a quarter vests, then monthly after that. Equity at a private startup is lottery-ticket money — most options never become liquid. Treat the base salary as your real pay and the equity as a possible upside. Dilution from future funding rounds also quietly shrinks what you own.
Related terms
Onboarding
The process of setting up a new hire — paperwork, equipment, training, introductions.
NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
A contract that legally restricts what you can say about an employer or its information.
Salary Band
The pre-set min-max pay range an employer has approved for a given role level.
Umbrella Company
A UK payroll intermediary that employs contractors on behalf of an end-client.