Government figures have revealed that 45 directors of recruitment industry firms received bans for misconduct between March and September last year.

The figures revealed by the Department for Trade and Industry showed that 5% of the directors banned in that period were from the industry, meaning the recruitment sector’s directors have one of the worst records for business misconduct.

Fraudulent company directors can be taken to court and banned from heading companies for up to 15 years and their names displayed on a register at Companies House.

Under new rules established last year, directors may also volunteer to join the disqualified directors’ register for a period of time approved by the trade and industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt.

REC director of external relations Marcia Roberts claimed the recruitment industry does not have many corrupt directors.

She said: ‘I am not aware that we have more directors disqualified than any other industry. One thing we do is check directors to see if they are listed as being banned at Companies House when companies apply to enter the REC.

‘That is one of the checks we do in order to ensure that the company is run and managed properly.’