High-potential list redaction is the removal of identifiers from a hi-po roster so members stay private. A closed list decides who gets development and who does not, and Equality Act 2010 section 39(2) covers exactly that kind of access to promotion and training. Where a slate is used to widen a shortlist, section 159 keeps positive action to a narrow tie-break. anonym.plus marks each name on your device, so the tiers stay clear while the people are hidden.
When this applies
An HR lead shares hi-po trends with a wider group, including how many part-time staff made the list. You redact the names first, so the pattern can be challenged without exposing the roster.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the roster in anonym.plus on your device.
- Built-in OCR reads a scanned list page.
- The app marks member names and emails.
- Confirm the markings and keep the tier labels.
- Swap each member for a tier code.
- Save the cleaned roster locally.
What you need to provide
- The roster (PDF, DOCX, XLSX-as-TXT).
- An operator (Replace keeps tiers legible).
- Optional alias map, OFF for true anonymity.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | Iris Fletcher → HIPO_6 |
| Org | ORGANIZATION | Sales South → [UNIT] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | i.fletcher@example.co.uk → [EMAIL] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | added 2024 → [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | Reading office → [SITE] |
| Demographic | NRP | women's slate → [GROUP] |
Compliance achieved
- Treats a closed list as access to promotion and training under Equality Act 2010 s.39(2).
- Keeps a slate inside the tie-break limits of Equality Act 2010 s.159, so positive action does not slide into s.13 direct discrimination.
- Covers part-time members under reg. 5 of the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.
- Targets the anonymity bar in UK GDPR Recital 26, offline, with AES-256-GCM on working copies.
Anonymise high-potential lists offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
A unit plus a tier can re-identify a member in a small team. One hi-po in a tiny group is easy to guess. Generalise the unit label where the pool is small.
Frequently asked questions
Can a member be guessed from the unit?
Yes, in a small team. A unit plus a tier may point to one person, so Recital 26 anonymity can need a broader unit label.
Is a secret hi-po list lawful?
It is not automatically unlawful, but it is exposed. Section 39(2) of the Equality Act 2010 covers how an employer affords access to promotion and training, so a list built on informal visibility is hard to defend if its make-up skews.
Can we reserve places for an under-represented group?
Only within section 159, which permits favouring an equally qualified candidate from an under-represented group, case by case. A reserved quota risks direct discrimination under section 13.
Is the roster uploaded?
No. The tool works offline, so it stays on your machine.