Public bodies should work in closer harmony with recruitment agencies to widen the talent available to them, advises the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Recruitment Society, Dame Rennie Fritchie told delegates that recruiters had a vital role to play in helping to reduce ‘cronyism’ in public bodies such as the BBC or regional development boards.

Her comments coincide with the Standards Watchdog Sir Alastair Graham’s warning that urgent reforms need to be made to the way the government recruits people for public roles.

Dame Fritchie said that those government departments that had used agencies to find candidates for roles in public life had improved both the quality and range of candidates they attracted.

But she also claimed that where departments had had some poor experiences with agencies, it was often because they had not properly briefed consultants.

“Some departments aren’t clear why they use consultants or what for,” said Fritchie. “If it’s a high profile appointment, the minister in charge should be working closely with agencies.”

The Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates around 11,000 minister-led hires for approximately 1,400 public bodies.

The body has produced a booklet designed for recruitment agencies about hiring for public positions, which is available on its website, www.ocpa.gov.uk.