Recruitment agencies could soon be invited to join the membership of construction industry trade bodies the Electrical Contractor Association and the Heating and Ventilation Association.

Dermot McGinley, chairman of McGinley Recruitment Services, told Recruiter: "The organisations are in talks to encompass employment agencies into their membership because they want to improve standards in the sector and they want to deal with the skills shortages."

Both trade associations were unavailable for comment as Recruiter went to press.