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Members welcome REC Compliance Review

The REC’s Compliance Review enters its next stage with a series of focus groups among its Corporate Members in July. These come after the REC received a positive response from members to its initial survey about the new Review with a total of 273 members responding to the survey conducted in April and May.

Key findings from the members’ survey showed:

• Eight out of ten members think self-assessment is a good way for the REC to check the compliance of its members
• Well over 85 per cent of  members believe the REC should carry out a regular review where members are required to demonstrate their compliance with the Code of Professional Practice and regulations governing the industry
• Members are very supportive of the new compliance checks on key legislative developments such as the Agency Workers Regulations
• The REC is conscious that the end process is to create a compliance system which limits the administrative burden and our members totally agree with this
• The vast majority of respondents stated the REC legal services were  the primary way they have of ensuring they are compliant with just under 90 per cent  saying they regularly read the Legal bulletin for example

Members taking part in the survey remarked: “The more a client can be certain that the REC means something, the better”; “Demonstrable and rigorous standards of compliance should be key in differentiating members of the REC from non-members” and “Self-assessments are the way forward and it can help new agencies understand the need for compliance.”

Three focus groups will be held in London (Tuesday July 12), Birmingham (Wednesday July 20) and Manchester (Thursday July 21) and will be attended by members who have expressed an interest in helping the REC develop its new compliance framework. Space is still available for the focus groups (see information below on how to register your interest), so contact the REC today for more details.

Commenting on progress with the Compliance Review, Kevin Green, the REC’s Chief Executive said:

“The results of this survey show that REC members are totally behind us upping our game in relation to compliance.  Throughout 2011, we will keep talking and listening to members about our ideas of how we implement these in practice.  The focus groups will enable us to drill down into the detail so that we find the right solutions to make this happen.”

The REC is now contacting those members who have indicated that they would like to make a bigger contribution in helping to shape the compliance framework. Members are still welcome to put themselves forward by telephoning 020 7009 2144 or emailing info@rec.uk.com adding “compliance review” in the subject line.

Further details about the Compliance Review and the proposals raised so far are available through the website: www.rec.uk.com/about-recruitment/standards/RECComplianceReview