The Association of Professional Staffing Companies [APSCo] will launch an education sector group from January.

The new sector group’s aim will be to reposition professional recruiters as an essential resource to education establishments as well as to challenge government legislation affecting the education recruitment market, APSCo said in a prepared statement.

Priority issues for the new sector group include whether the current Quality Mark is fit for purpose and the impact of the academy model on the future of procurement, the statement said.

A launch event will be held at the National Union of Teachers Conference Centre on 10 January. ‘Challenges for the Education Sector in 2013 and Beyond’ will include a panel debate featuring representation from the CBI, Government Procurement Service and the National Children’s Bureau, among other organisations.