CDI AndersElite has “redoubled” its efforts to ensure the construction staffing specialist’s legal and ethical practices are at the heart of all its business activities, according to managing director Ed Zetusky.

Zetusky’s comments follow the reduction of a fine following an appeal against the level of a fine imposed by the Office of Fair Trading in September 2009. CDI AndersElite was one of six recruitment firms fined by the OFT for price-fixing and the collective boycott of another company in supplying candidates to the construction industry.

Zetusky told Recruiter: “AndersElite fully co-operated with the OFT in its investigation of these violations that occurred in late 2004 to early 2006. While none of our clients were adversely affected by the conduct nor did Anders profit from it, it was clearly a violation of our compliance policies and our commitment to conduct business in a legal and ethical manner.

“Since that time we have reinforced our compliance policies and have redoubled our efforts to ensure that legal and ethical practices remain at the core of all of our business activity.”

On Friday, CDI AndersElite had their fine cut from £7.6m to £1.54m, whileEden Brown’s fine was reduced from £1.072m to £477,750. Hays saw its penalty reduced from £30.4m to £5.88m.

At the time, the OFT ruled that A Warwick Associates (£3,303), Beresford Blake Thomas (£0), CDI AndersElite (£7.6m), Eden Brown (£1.07m), Fusion People (£125,021), Hays Specialist Recruitment (£30.4m), Henry Recruitment (£108,043) and Hill McGlynn & Associates (£0) all breached the Competition Act 1998.