REC launches Academy for Business

As part of its brand new comprehensive HELP Campaign to help recruiters through the recession, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has launched the Academy for Business, the UKís first integrated business support service.

The Academy for Business brings together for the first time in one place all the RECís training and qualifications, business partner activity along with the mentoring and start-up services previously delivered by RITE.

The academyís formation has come about as a result of feedback from corporate members. While liking and using many of the RECís services, many of them found obtaining information about its business support and training was not as easy as it could be.

Also, while many REC products were highly successful, the overall offering needed to be broadened and developed specifically to help members survive and thrive during this economic downturn.

New products and services being added to the Academyís remit include:

ï a new business health-check comprising an objective, robust review of a companyís strategy

ï a recruitment expert providing fee-earner performance coaching to help improve consultantsí productivity – particularly crucial in a recession

ï courses geared towards generating new business leads and attracting new clients

Kevin Green, the RECís Chief Executive, said: ìThe Academy for Business is an exciting new development which supplements our new account management system in making our services more accessible and more centred on membersí needs.

ìThe RECís whole focus now is on helping our members beat the recession. We have listened to them and these new products, created as a result of their comments, will really give them the edge in rising to this challenge.î

Judith Armatage, the RECís Director of Professional Development, commented: ìWe have redesigned many of our development products so they meet the needs for todayís market. We have also brought in new experts to deliver on the RECís behalf and have designed some totally new programmes which again are totally focussed on improving our membersí business performanceî