A Letter of Recommendation is also known as a reference letter, personal reference, character reference or simply a reference.
More often than not it is written by an employer, colleague or teacher and refers positively to the named person’s skills, character, work ethic etc.
Free Reference Letter Template UK
This reference letter template is a basic letter of recommendation which can be customised to suit a variety of needs. For instance, it can be used for an employment reference in England, Wales and Scotland, a landlord reference or for entrance to a particular college programme.
It is a testament to a candidate’s application, providing them with a written acknowledgement of what they themselves have written in terms of their personality, skills, achievements etc.
Reference letter template uk: information to include
A reference letter will always include certain basic information, such as name and contact number of the individual who is writing it. Ideally, it should also contain that person’s email or address (so that they can be contacted if need be).
It will then go on to confirm the person’s relationship to the applicant (ie who the reference letter is for), as well as their own profession etc, and why they are qualified to give such a recommendation.
Depending on why it is being written ie for a job or volunteering role, college application, the reference letter from a referee will usually go on to highlight the applicant’s relevant skills, achievements, character etc. It is always more powerful if the character trait, skill etc is backed up by real life examples, such as showing leadership by being captain of the volleyball team or volunteering as a mentor for teens etc.
Always list the skills or characteristics in reference to what the position entails to ensure it is as relevant – and useful – as possible.
Finally, the reference should contain a closing statement.
Reference letter template uk: confidentiality requirement
Because the reference refers to an individual and outlines personal qualities, fact and circumstances, a reference should always be confidential and only seen by those to whom it is addressed. In many cases – especially with an employment reference – the person about whom the reference is written doesn’t always get to see it.
Reference letter template uk: employment reference
Regardless of whether it is for a job, college application or tenancy etc, what is written in a letter of recommendation should always be sincere, fair and a true reflection of that individual’s qualities, skills or character etc.
A basic reference will be short at just a few paragraphs in length, whereas a more detailed reference may take up a whole A4 page.
It’s not always a legal requirement for an employer to provide a reference for something he or she has hired. That’s only the case if it is written into the employee’s contract.
Reference letter template uk: getting started
To get started on writing a reference letter, why not download our professional reference letter template today? It provides a good guide as to what you will be expected to list. It also divides the required information into sections which, in turn, makes it easier to fill in and complete.
Use the form and customise it when writing a reference for a colleague, producing a character statement for a volunteer position, or informing a landlord why you think the person mentioned would be a good tenant (ie pays rent on time, keeps the flat tidy etc). It could also be a recommendation letter from a lawyer to client or even a work experience reference letter sample which you can then populate with your own words.
In other words, there are many uses for this professional reference letter template.
Read more or download our Free Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Template or our Free Contract of Employment Template.
