Calling on the organisation and its increasing number of members to “celebrate the sector and be optimistic about the value recruitment offers”, REC CEO Neil Carberry (pictured) discussed the past year’s accomplishments and broadly outlined the REC’s future direction at its recent Annual General Meeting. 

The restructuring led to the delineation of four key business units, which Carberry said would give “greater visibility of the business… and sharpen the arrowhead of the business” as the REC focuses on “championing good practice, speaking up for the industry and helping recruiters to succeed”. As a representative industry voice, Carberry said the REC aims to be “quoted, admired and respected... not as a commentator but as a giver of insight”.

The organisation achieved 90% membership renewals last year “for the first time”, Carberry said, adding that the REC had recently matched the number of renewals of last year, with time remaining in the year. More than 460 new members joined in 2018, with 300 newcomers already added to the ranks in the current year.

“We are looking to boost members’ affinity with the REC,” Carberry said. “We will be making sure we’re communicating with the industry in the way they want to be communicated with.”

He went on to say that he was concerned about the amount of intellectual property held at the REC “that is not being put to the best use”. Characterising the IP base as “enormous”, he said that the organisation needed to “focus on things that most meet the needs” of their members.

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