The Salisbury Journal reports the candidate in question – Michael Fowler, who was applying for a role for a delivery lorry driver – was told via email by Blu Global recruitment consultant Plamena Ivanova: “Are you British, because our positions exclude British candidates?”

Fowler told the paper the job ad stated drivers were required to live and work in the UK and must be a EU citizen, with a good level of English, adding he didn’t know what to say when rejected for the role.

After being shown the email, Blu Global said it was “completely shocked”, and in a statement sent to the paper revealed the recruiter had terminated Ivanova as a result of her actions.

“We can confirm that we continuously place candidates of European and British nationality within all of our past and present clients, as we advertise for, and recruit, candidates both in the UK and across mainland Europe.

“Any deviation from this policy, by any member of staff or any independent person/organisation acting under or using the Blu Global brand, is not supported in any way by the company and we will fully investigate this allegation.”

Recruiter contacted Blu Global for further comment but had not heard back by deadline. 

• Comment below on this story. You can also tweet us to tell us your thoughts or share this story with a friend. Our editorial email is [email protected]