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Construction Recruitment Industry hits out at ACE charges

Construction recruiters have hit back at criticisms made of them in the recent report by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) as featured in Recruiter Magazine 31 October 2007.

The report criticised agencies for charging excessive fees, failing to work to codes of conduct, poor customer service and providing poorly matched CV s.

The managing director of a leading Consultantancy, said: "We need to bear in mind that the report only accounts for the views of one stake-holders - employers, and that the findings can therefore be misleading if viewed in isolation. It is disappointing that the ACE should cloud the key strategic issue of skills shortages with a one-sided view of agencies. He added that he welcomed all initiatives to improve the practices of recruiters.

Clive Todd of TH Associates added: "There is little need for a recruitment agency charter. It would act as no more than yet another hoop to jump through and a catalyst for higher costs.  The REC already works hard to ensure it squeezes out those unprofessional recruiters, and if ACE members selected REC members only; developed their own strategic recruitment framework and relied upon recommendations or testimonials they would satisfy themselves that they were dealing with a legitimate, professional company."

Meanwhile the projects director for an engineering consultancy, said: "What you get out of your recruitment agency is determined by what you put in. If you implement a 'shot-gun' approach, providing lots of agencies with a halfhearted attempt at a job specification, you can't expect to attract the perfect applicant."

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