Free CV Templates UK: 15 Professional Layouts That Pass ATS

A good UK CV is two A4 pages max, reverse-chronological, with a short profile, quantified experience bullets and a tight skills section — no photo, no date of birth, no “references available on request”. These 15 free templates are built around exactly that.

The safest picks for UK applications

Stockholm is the default recommendation: Swiss single-column, hairline rules, numbered sections — it parses through every ATS and reads beautifully on paper. Ledger suits finance, data and public-sector roles with tabular dates. Nordwick is the minimalist all-rounder for admin, ops and customer service.

All three keep your contact line, profile, experience, education and skills in one linear flow, which is precisely what UK recruiters and their software expect.

When to use something bolder

Marketing, sales, media and startups reward a little personality: Onyx (editorial masthead), Meridian (tech-forward badges) or Vertex (airy product minimalism) stand out without breaking ATS rules — they still use real text and standard headings.

Creative and freelance roles can go further with Split or Ember, especially where a portfolio link matters more than parser-perfection. Match the template's confidence to the industry's dress code.

How to use any template in one click

Open the builder, start blank or from sample content, and pick a template — or open any template's page and hit “Use this template”. Your text, dates and settings carry over untouched when you swap, so trying three layouts takes seconds.

Export the PDF when the preview looks right. The preview is pixel-identical to the file employers receive.

Quick answers

How long should a UK CV be?

Two A4 pages maximum for most roles; one page for graduates and career switchers. Recruiters skim — density without clutter wins.

Should a UK CV include a photo?

Generally no — UK hiring norms exclude photos. If you're applying in mainland Europe, the same templates support a photo with one click.

Put this into practice — build your CV free.

15 ATS-friendly templates · Live A4 preview · No sign-up.

Start writing — free

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