The recruitment industry’s trade body has announced plans for an enterprise agency to help fledgling agencies.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has launched a half-year feasibility study to see whether the project will work.

It’s hoped the Recruitment Industry Enterprise Agency will provide specialist help, support and training as well as professional support and monitoring. The project will be headed by Denise Walker, who ran her own recruitment agency for 11 years.

Managing director Gareth Osborne (pictured) said: “We estimate that 1,000 recruitment businesses are established each year.

“We are aiming to establish a vehicle for better business start-ups and for the development of these recruitment businesses, so that they can flourish and operate at the highest possible standards.”