The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has launched its first recruitment-to-recruitment sector group to promote a clear set of guidelines for the industry.

Representatives have been in talks for several months to agree on a code of conduct for the sector group, with the first official meeting planned for September.

“Up until now there has been no formal representation for rec-to-rec companies or for companies that use them,” said Nick Bancroft, joint managing director of McCall.

“It gives us a formal code of practice so when people use a rec-to-rec company that is a member, the client knows what to expect.”

REC managing director Gareth Osborne welcomed standardisation. “We are far less enamoured [of rec-to-rec companies] when they approach ours to satisfy someone else’s requirements,” he said.

Any rec-to-rec firm wishing to join the new group should call Eileen Simpson on 020 7462 3294.