Candidate Terms of Use

1.1 The Platform is a digital marketplace that facilitates introductions between employers (Clients) and individuals seeking work opportunities (Candidates) for trial shifts and potential employment.

1.2 Ritson Portfolio Ltd (trading as Sampler) (the "Company") acts solely as a technology and introduction service provider.

1.3 The Company is not:

• an employer of any Candidate;
• a recruitment agency or employment business within the meaning of the Employment Agencies Act 1973;
• a party to any employment, worker, or consultancy agreement between a Candidate and a Client.

1.4 Any engagement, trial shift, or employment relationship is formed directly between the Candidate and the Client.

Status During Platform Use

2.1 Candidates access the Platform as independent individuals. The Company does not direct, supervise, or control any Candidate's work at any time.

2.2 Nothing in these Terms creates:

• an employment relationship between the Candidate and the Company;
• a worker relationship between the Candidate and the Company;
• a partnership or joint venture between the Candidate and the Company.

Status During Trial Shifts

2.3 The legal status of a Candidate during any trial shift is determined solely by the nature of the arrangement between the Candidate and the Client. The Company has no visibility into, and does not determine, the day-to-day working arrangements of any trial.

2.4 Candidates acknowledge that the Client is solely responsible for determining the Candidate's employment status during any trial and for complying with all applicable employment law obligations arising from that status, including National Minimum Wage, working time regulations, and holiday pay.

2.5 A statement of self-employed status in these Terms does not automatically determine the Candidate's legal employment status, which is a matter of fact based on the actual working relationship with the Client.

3.1 Candidates must provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information when creating a profile.

3.2 Candidates must not:

• misrepresent qualifications, experience, or identity;
• provide false or misleading information;
• impersonate another individual.

3.3 The Company reserves the right to suspend or remove accounts where information is found to be inaccurate or misleading.

4.1 Candidates may be required to complete assessments and microtests as part of the Platform's evaluation process.

4.2 The Candidate acknowledges that:

• results contribute to their Talent Card and profile;
• scores and insights are generated using automated systems across six dimensions: Problem Solving, Execution and Delivery, Learning Speed, Ownership and Initiative, Collaboration, and Communication;
• these results may be shared with Clients via the Platform;
• a performance signal (including an exceptional signal) may be recorded by a Client following a trial shift, which will update the Candidate's Talent Card score on a 50/50 weighting with assessment results.

4.3 The Company does not guarantee that assessment results will lead to trial opportunities or employment.

4.4 Candidates have the right to request information about how their assessment scores and Talent Card data are generated. Requests can be made to privacy@sampler.org.uk.

5.1 The Platform uses automated systems to generate Talent Card scores, performance insights, and candidate-employer matching signals.

5.2 These automated systems are designed to support, not replace, human decision-making. No decision with a legal or similarly significant effect is made solely by automated means without human involvement.

5.3 The Platform uses automated matching and scoring — including AI-generated compatibility and alignment scores — to surface and rank Candidates for Clients, as an aid to their evaluation process. All final hiring decisions are made independently by Clients, and the Company does not make hiring decisions on any Candidate's or Client's behalf.

5.4 Candidates have the right to:

• request meaningful information about how their automated score was generated;
• request human review of any automated assessment result that has a significant effect on their profile;
• object to processing based solely on automated means where it produces significant effects.

5.5 Requests under this clause may be submitted to privacy@sampler.org.uk. The Company will respond within 30 days of receipt.

6.1 Trial shifts are arranged directly between the Candidate and the Client via the Platform.

6.2 The Client is solely responsible for:

• determining the nature of the work and setting expectations;
• setting working hours and conditions;
• providing a safe working environment;
• complying with all applicable employment, tax, health and safety, and immigration laws;
• conducting all required right-to-work checks before any trial shift commences.

6.3 The Company does not supervise or control trial shifts and does not conduct right-to-work checks on behalf of Clients.

7.1 Payment for trial shifts is the responsibility of the Client. The Company facilitates payment transfer as a technology intermediary only.

7.2 Where payment is facilitated via the Platform, the Company instructs Stripe (a third-party payment provider) to collect, hold, and disburse funds on the Client's behalf. The Company does not employ or pay Candidates and does not act as a payment institution.

7.3 To receive payment, Candidates must set up a Stripe Express account via the Platform, linking a bank account or debit card. Compensation for a completed Trial Shift is calculated in accordance with the rate confirmed to the Candidate at the time of booking, and is paid directly into this account.

7.4 Payment is automatically initiated once the Client's payment for the Trial Shift has cleared and the Trial Shift is confirmed as complete on the Platform. Funds typically arrive on a rolling payout schedule of up to 7 days from confirmation, in line with Stripe's standard payout timing for new accounts. This may shorten over time as the Candidate's account builds a payment history.

7.5 From time to time, Stripe may require a Candidate to verify their identity to continue receiving payments. If this happens, the Company will notify the Candidate and payment will be released once verification is complete.

7.6 Where a trial is terminated early, the Candidate is paid for completed days only; unused days are refunded to the Client; the Company retains applicable processing costs where applicable. Where compensation has already been transferred to the Candidate for a Trial Shift that is subsequently cancelled or terminated in accordance with the Company's Cancellation Policy, that payment may be reversed in accordance with the Cancellation Policy.

7.7 Candidates are responsible for keeping their Stripe Express account details accurate and up to date. The Company cannot release payment to an incomplete or restricted Stripe account, and will notify the Candidate if this is blocking payment.

7.8 The Company is not liable for non-payment by a Client where payment is arranged outside the Platform.

8.1 Candidates are solely responsible for:

• declaring all income received through the Platform to HMRC;
• paying any applicable Income Tax and National Insurance contributions;
• complying with all applicable tax and financial regulations.

8.2 The Company does not deduct tax or National Insurance from payments made to Candidates. Candidates should seek independent tax advice if unsure of their obligations.

8.3 The Company does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice.

9.1 Where a Client wishes to make an offer of employment or engagement, this will be communicated via the Platform.

9.2 Upon accepting an offer, the Candidate explicitly consents to:

• the release of their personal contact details to the Client;
• the Client contacting them directly for contract issuance and onboarding.

9.3 Any subsequent employment or engagement contract is strictly between the Candidate and the Client. The Company is not a party to that contract.

9.4 A Conversion Fee of £750 is payable by the Client to the Company upon offer acceptance following a Trial Shift. This fee is charged to the Client and does not affect the Candidate's remuneration.

10.1 Candidates agree to act professionally and responsibly during all interactions and trial shifts.

10.2 Candidates must not:

• engage in misconduct, negligence, or unsafe behaviour;
• breach the confidentiality of any Client;
• act in a discriminatory or unlawful manner.

10.3 The Company reserves the right to suspend or remove Candidates for inappropriate behaviour or breach of these Terms.

11.1 Any disputes arising from a trial shift or employment relationship are between the Candidate and the Client.

11.2 The Company may, at its discretion, assist in facilitating communication between parties but is under no obligation to do so and is not responsible for resolving disputes.

11.3 The Company shall not be liable for any loss arising from disputes between Candidates and Clients.

12.1 The Company provides the Platform on an as-is and as-available basis.

12.2 The Company shall not be liable for:

• loss of earnings or opportunity;
• disputes with Clients;
• the performance or conduct of any Client;
• or indirect or consequential losses of any kind.

13.1 The Company processes personal data in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, as set out in the Sampler Privacy Policy.

13.2 Candidate data will be used for matching with Clients, generating Talent Cards and AI-driven insights, facilitating trial shifts and hiring, and improving Platform functionality.

13.3 Candidates have the right to access, correct, delete, and port their data. See the Privacy Policy for full details.

13.4 The Company is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), registration number ZC195328. If you are unhappy with how the Company has handled your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the ICO at ico.org.uk.

14.1 The Company may suspend or terminate access to the Platform for breach of these Terms, misuse of the Platform, or provision of false or misleading information.

14.2 Candidates may delete their account at any time via Platform settings.

15.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

15.2 The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising under these Terms.