Do I need to join the REC to run a recruitment agency?
No. REC membership is voluntary; no law requires a UK agency to join the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. Members get legal support, training discounts and the REC badge, but must follow its Code of Professional Practice and pass a compliance assessment every two years. Fees depend on turnover and are not published.
Last checked 26 October 2026.
What the REC is, and what it is not
The REC is a trade body for UK recruitment businesses. It is not a regulator and does not license agencies. The law you trade under, the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct Regulations 2003, applies whether you join or not, and the Fair Work Agency enforces it. Membership adds a code of conduct on top of the law; it does not replace it.
What members get
| Benefit | What the REC says |
|---|---|
| Legal support | Recruitment law specialists, a legal helpline, template contracts, policies, factsheets and a monthly legal bulletin |
| Training | Savings on courses through the REC Academy |
| REC badge | Members can use the REC logo after passing the compliance assessment |
| Events | Regional and sector events, masterclasses and business growth seminars |
| Discounts | Savings on business products from the REC's partner network |
| Optional audit | Members can opt into the REC Audited scheme |
Who can join, and what you sign up to
- UK-based recruitment agencies only.
- Trading in the UK for at least a year and registered with Companies House, or run by someone with at least a year's recruitment experience or who has completed the REC Start-up course.
- Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office.
- Agree to follow the REC Code of Professional Practice, which the REC says goes further than the legal obligations. Complaints against members are judged against it.
- Pass the compliance assessment, a multiple choice test on industry legislation, with 80% or more. Agencies supplying people to work with vulnerable people must also answer every red flag question correctly. Corporate members retake it every two years.
What it costs
The REC does not publish its prices. Its page says fees are based on company turnover, with a one-off joining fee plus an annual subscription, paid by quarterly direct debit or upfront by invoice. Ask the REC for your band before you decide, and weigh it against what you would otherwise pay for employment law advice.
When joining makes sense
Membership tends to earn its keep when you have no employment lawyer on call and want a helpline for questions such as transfer fees or holiday pay, when a client's supplier form or a tender asks about trade body membership, or when you want a structured compliance check on your own processes. Ask your target clients whether they care before you pay.
It matters less if you already have a solicitor you trust and your clients never ask. You can still read the law yourself: our guides to the Conduct Regulations and right to work checks link to the official sources. Other trade bodies exist for parts of the industry, so compare what each asks of members and what it gives back.
Tempbench, the CRM for UK temp agencies, has no link with the REC and works the same whether or not you are a member.
Questions people ask
Is REC membership a legal requirement?
No. No UK law requires an agency to join the REC or any other trade body. You must follow the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct Regulations 2003 either way, and the Fair Work Agency enforces those rules for members and non-members alike. Membership is a choice about support and credibility.
Can a brand new agency join the REC?
Possibly. The REC asks that you have traded in the UK for at least a year and are registered with Companies House, or that the business is run by someone with at least a year of recruitment experience or who has completed its Start-up course. You must also be registered with the ICO and pass its compliance test.
How much does REC membership cost?
The REC does not publish its prices. Its corporate membership page says the fee is based on company turnover, with a one-off joining fee plus an annual subscription, payable by quarterly direct debit or upfront by invoice. Contact the REC for the band that applies to your agency before you commit.
What is the REC compliance test?
A multiple choice assessment covering recruitment legislation. Agencies need at least 80% to pass, and those supplying people to work with vulnerable people must also answer every red flag question correctly. All members must pass it to join, and corporate members repeat it every two years to keep their membership.
Sources
Try it with your own week.
Load the sample agency in one click or import your spreadsheet. 30 days free, no card needed.