REC Inspections

  What are REC inspections? 

 In 2007, the REC introduced a programme of inspections.  Each month we select a number of corporate members to be visited by an Assessment Officer and assessed against key areas of industry regulations and REC standards.  REC inspections are different from REC Audited, which is a paid for service.  Please click here for further information on REC Audited

Why are we inspecting you? 

Firstly, this scheme is a key part of our strategy to raise standards within the industry and promote our members as professional recruiters. We are also carrying out these inspections to help you ensure that your business is compliant with relevant legal requirements.  If you are not compliant, then your business may be at risk.  You should be aware that:

• If agencies are found to be breaking the law, BIS can prosecute or fine the agency up to £5000 per offence  or ban the agency from operating for up to 10 years
• It is a legal requirement to be registered with the Information Commissioner’s office (ICO) if you process personal data.  Non registration may result in fines or court action.
• If you are acting as an employment business – that is, paying the temporary workers that you are supplying to a client - you should check that your workers are eligible to work in the UK in line with Home Office guidance.  If you are found to be in breach of the law the resulting penalties can be up to £10,000 per worker.
• If you operate in the sectors regulated by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), you could face prosecution if you operate as a gangmaster without a licence or you could lose your licence if you are found to be in breach of the licensing standards.

 So, the inspections aim to help you ensure that your business is compliant. 

 What can you expect from an REC inspection? 

We will write to you to let you know that you have been selected for an inspection.  The Assessment Officer will then contact you to arrange a date giving you approximately 2 weeks notice. 

Before the inspection you will receive guidance on the inspection criteria (also available on the inspection guidance for members page), the REC’s policy on data protection and a list of documents to have ready for the Assessment Officer. 

At the start of the visit, the Assessment Officer will hold an introductory meeting with the MD/senior manager to gain an understanding of your business.  The Assessment Officer will then assess you against the inspection criteria.  This will involve reviewing contracts, policies, talking to at least 1 recruitment consultant and reviewing candidate and client files. 

After the inspection, the Assessment Officer will send you a report, which will let you know whether you have passed or failed the inspection.  If you have passed, the inspection process will be complete and we will write to you to confirm this.   If you have failed, we will ask you to provide evidence of compliance within a 6 week deadline.  Please note, that if you do not provide a full satisfactory response within this period, your agency's name will be removed from the REC's online directory until we receive evidence of full compliance. If you fail the inspection:

• you will have full access to all REC services and we will help you to access the information you will need to be fully compliant
• we will give you the contact details of the REC’s Academy for Business http://www.rec.uk.com/academy-for-business , which has a specific service to assist you in completing your inspection process
• we will offer you every support and guidance on the day to help you become compliant

  The REC has a team of regionally based Assessment Officers, who operate on a nation wide basis. The Assessment Officers are Bevali Anderson-Pass, Lynn Wildman and Mary Humphries. 

If you would like further information on the inspection scheme, please contact the REC Consultancy & Compliance team at standards@rec.uk.com or on 0207 009 2100.