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REC members vote unanimously for more rigorous compliance

Recruiters voted unanimously to introduce a rigorous new compliance regime at the Annual General Meeting of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) today.

The new compliance regime which received formal approval this morning means that from 1st July 2012 all recruitment agencies wishing to obtain REC membership will have to pass a new online test in which they demonstrate their compliance with relevant industry regulations as well as the REC’s own Code of Professional Practice. The requirement to pass this test will be rolled out to existing REC members later this year. Members will need to re-take the test every two years to renew their membership.

REC and Institute of Recruitment Professional members also voted online, via post and in person at the meeting at the REC to elect nine new Directors to the REC’s Board.

Commenting after today’s AGM, REC chief executive Kevin Green said:
 “I’m delighted that our membership have supported our latest drive to raise standards in the recruitment industry with this robust new approach to member compliance. The formal acceptance of the new system today marks the end of a very detailed 18 month long project - including our biggest member consultation ever - to develop a compliance process and new online test that continues our mission to keep raising the bar for quality, standards and compliance within recruitment.

REC Chairman Neil Smith added:

 “We had 27 people put themselves forward for election and I want to thank all of them – both those who are now joining our Board and those who were not elected this time. It’s fantastic to welcome these very experienced and dynamic new Directors to our Council. They come from all corners of our industry and will bring new energy and ideas to our Board. I’m very much looking forward to working with them.”

The new Directors who join the REC Council following today’s election are:
• Sean Gallagher, ITHR (re-elected)
• Simon Noakes, Bespoke Recruitment (re-elected)
• Gary Irvine, Diamond Recruitment Group (new)
• Helena Benjamin, Care Recruitment (new)
• Rebekah Handford, Highpoint Recruitment (new)
• Jacqueline Hilton, Fidelis Partners (re-elected)
• Lisa Jarvis, Permanent Solutions Direct (new)
• Jo Edwards, Tate (new)
• Miles Davis, Healthcare Locums (new)

652 votes were cast in the Council election via an online election system which was launched for the first time last year.

Ends
Notes to Editors:

1. Photographs from the event are available for publication, please contact Liz Banks, Head of External Communications 020 7009 2157,  liz.banks@rec.uk.com or the REC Press Office, 0845 3700655.

2. The REC Council consists of up to 17 Directors who are representatives of Corporate Members and up to seven Directors who are representatives of Individual Members of the IRP, appointed either by the membership at the Annual General Meeting of the REC or by the Council itself during the course of the year as vacancies arise. One quarter of the Directors will stand down each year at the AGM, and any member can be nominated for election, in accordance with the articles