New Rec initiative will help search for top recruiter talent

Top new talent for the recruitment industry is now being encouraged through a new initiative from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

In response to feedback from its members regarding the difficulties in finding new recruitment consultants, the REC is launching a one-day training course for potential new candidates.

The training course will provide candidates interested in joining the industry with an understanding of the recruiterís role, including the skills and attributes needed and typical performance levels and targets.

It will also examine the highs and the lows as well as career development opportunities within the industry.

The initiative will be run by REC-accredited recruitment consultancies, the initial pilot scheme being undertaken by KSM Resourcing, a Warwickshire-based consultancy run by REC Fellow, Karen Moore and London-based McCall headed up by Nick Bancroft.

Courses organised by KSM will be in the Midlands starting at Solihull Borough Football Club on May 17th followed by Bicester Golf and Country Club on May 25th while the first McCall-led course will be on May 24th at the companyís office in Cloak Lane in the City of London.

Commenting on the initiative, Nick Bancroft, joint MD of McCall, said: ìWe are delighted to be one of only two organisations that have been appointed by the REC to run these pilot courses.

ìWe feel very strongly about the need to get ënew bloodí into the recruitment sector and have been running our own academy for more than ten years. With the REC recognition, we are hoping that clients will be even more willing to look at employing people without previous recruitment experience.î

Karen Moore of KSM Resourcing added: ìI have been advocating the need for this type of course for many years. The industry has expanded to such an extent that the need to ìgrow your own staffî must begin with ensuring trainees have the adequate skills and aptitude to develop successful careers, leading to greater retention for recruiters.

ìKSM is therefore confident that our REC-approved courses will provide a pool of highly placeable trainees.î

Judith Armatage, the RECís Director of Professional Development, commented that this was an exciting new intiative which they believed would raise awareness among those seeking work of the opportunities recruitment offered for long term career development.

ìLike Nick, I hope that recruitment consultancies will feel more confident taking on trainees and giving continued support to them throughout their career,î said Judith.

ìThose participating in the training will gain useful tips on CV and interview preparation, and those interested in pursuing a career in recruitment will be guided through the process and placed with recruitment agencies looking for new consultants.

ìWhat is more, this initiative further endorses the RECís commitment to raising standards within the industry.î

For further information about the courses, contact Judith Armatage on 020 7009 2173, email judith.armatage@rec.uk.com.