Current News
21 Sep 2007
REC launches new industry code for marketing, media and communications sector
The Code has been created following Xchangeteam CEO Emma Brierley’s efforts to stamp out “unethical” behaviour across the recruitment industry and to set a standard of service that professional recruitment agencies will aspire to reach.
Under the direction of Brierley, the REC’s Marketing, Media and Communications (MMC) Group is striving to see the Code become quickly established in order to drive out the cowboys from its industry.
There are three parts to the Code: one part is designed as a Code of Practice for recruitment companies, one is a Guidance for Client organisations and one will serve as a Guidance for Candidates working in the sector. Brierley initiated the Code when she witnessed an increasing number of recruitment companies flouting the rules, such as sending out CVs without discussing the opportunity with candidates beforehand in a bid to get the CV to the client first. This was leading to confusion and lengthening the recruitment process.
The Code has been welcomed by other professional bodies in the industry. Said Richard Houghton, Chairman, Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA): “One of the core focuses for the PRCA is raising standards in public relations and as a people business we fully endorse the Code of Practice as an important step forward in improving the recruitment process for all our members.”
Tom Hadley, the REC’s Director of External Relations said: “We are continuously striving to raise standards within the recruitment industry and this latest initiative can only work to enhance and promote the work of recruitment professionals in the marketing, media and communications sector who have a genuine desire to achieve the highest standards of performance.”
He added: “At a time when employers in this sector are crying out for high calibre candidates, professional recruiters have a key role to play in ensuring that resourcing needs are met in an ethical way.”
Emma Brierley, CEO of Xchangeteam and chair of the Marketing, Media and Communications Group (MMC) enthused: “I am delighted that the Code has won so much support from like-minded recruitment professionals, clients and candidates, all keen to maintain high standards. The question of ethics is everyone’s problem and bad practice should never be ignored or encouraged. I felt that the industry would get a raw deal and standards would fall.”
She added: “With a Code in place, it will now be much easier for recruitment agencies, candidates and clients to build a relationship with confidence in the knowledge that everyone will offer a certain standard of conduct and behaviour. For this reason, I am pleased to see the initiative going ahead and hope that many agencies, clients and candidates will sign up to it.”
Those wishing to sign up to the new Code can find out more by visiting www.rec.uk.com.
