Time for a National Focus on Good Recruitment - REC

Some of the UK’s largest employers joined the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) at a central London venue this morning for the launch of a new campaign to promote good practice in recruitment.

Working with a panel of national business bodies and 14 employers including Santander, Royal Mail and Dixons Retail, the REC has developed the Good Recruitment Charter. This defines nine key principles of good recruitment practice covering subjects such as flexible working, candidate experience, and extending good practice equally to permanent, temporary, contract and part-time workers.

By engaging with the campaign and signing up to the charter, employers will be making a visible commitment to good recruitment practice which will help to enhance their brand and attract candidates.

REC chief executive Kevin Green says:
“This campaign was created by employers for employers with the objective of promoting good practice in recruitment and resourcing. As demand returns to the economy and businesses are looking to hire more staff, fine-tuning their resourcing strategies is becoming critical. This is the right time to create a national focus on good recruitment.

“Great recruitment practices benefit everyone. Businesses source the right people, candidates have an excellent experience and employment opportunities are maximised across the UK.”

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s Head of Public Policy, Ben Willmott says:
“The CIPD is pleased to support the Good Recruitment Charter as a means of highlighting to HR practitioners and other business leaders involved in resourcing decisions or activity, some key principles that lie at the heart of responsible and sustainable recruitment and employment practices.”

Paul Maxin, Head of Talent & Resourcing at the Financial Conduct Authority, who spoke at today’s event, added:

“A consumer centric approach to candidate engagement is essential for success. The majority of candidates will not be successful with their application, therefore rejection capability must be as good as selection capability. The Good Recruitment Campaign has candidate experience at its heart.”

Employers who sign up to the aspirational charter will gain access to advice, guidance and research on the latest innovations in recruitment good practice. The REC will provide self-assessment tools so they can evaluate their own processes and identify areas for development. To sign up to the charter employers should go to www.rec.uk.com/goodrecruitment

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. The REC’s advisory panel is made up of 14 employers including Santander, Dixons Retail, the FCA,  Arsenal FC, Penguin Random House Group, G4S, First Group, AECOM, Care UK, Buckinghamshire County Council, Inch Cape, Royal Mail, Scottish Zoological Society and NHS Employers. It also has representation from the CIPD, CBI, FSB, Direct Employers Association, The HR Society and the Institute of Leadership and Management. The campaign is supported by CEB, the member-based advisory company and in addition to the organisations on the panel, other businesses have already signed up to the charter including npower and Kingston University.

2. To find out more about the REC’s Good Recruitment Campaign and read the charter in full go to www.rec.uk.com/goodrecruitment

3. For more information, contact the REC Press Office on 0207 009 2157/2192 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. An ISDN line is available for interviews on 0207 021 0584.

4. The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) is the professional body for the recruitment industry. The REC represents 3,506 corporate members who have branches across all regions of the UK. In addition, the REC represents 4,744 individual members within the Institute of Recruitment Professionals (IRP). All members must abide by a code of professional practice. Above all, the REC is committed to raising standards and highlighting excellence throughout the industry. Find out more on www.rec.uk.com.