Construction recruiters have hit back at criticisms made of them in the recent report by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE).

The report criticised agencies for charging excessive fees, failing to work to codes of conduct, poor customer service and providing poorly matched CVs.

Tim Cook, managing director of Hays Consulting Engineering, said: "We need to bear in mind that the report only accounts for the views of one stakeholder - employers -- and that the findings can therefore be misleading if viewed in isolation. It is disappointing that the ACE should cloud the key strategic issue of skills shortages with a one-sided view of agencies."

Cook added that he welcomed all initiatives to improve the practices of recruiters.

Clive Todd of TH Associates added: "There is little need for a recruitment agency charter. It would act as no more than yet another hoop to jump through and a catalyst for higher costs.

"The REC already works hard to ensure it squeezes out those unprofessional recruiters, and if ACE members selected REC members only, developed their own strategic recruitment framework and relied upon recommendations or testimonials they would satisfy themselves that they were dealing with a legitimate, professional company."

Meanwhile Russ Harding, projects director for engineering consultancy Manrochem, an NES customer, said: "What you get out of your recruitment agency is determined by what you put in. If you implement a 'shot-gun' approach, providing lots of agencies with a half-hearted attempt at a job specification, you can't expect to attract the perfect applicant."