Spring chief executive Richard Barfield has pledged to make recruitment attractive to young people in his new leadership role at the recruitment industry’s trade body.

As chairman of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), Barfield wants to boost the professional image of the industry, and intends to focus on maintaining standards to make it a more credible career choice.

He said: “Our industry is progressing from being a trade to a profession – we must make it an industry that young people want to work in, make an impression in, and have a good career in.”

Barfield will remain chairman for as long as the REC’s board sees fit and will play an active role in its lobbying activities.