In addition to the focus on jobs, especially youth unemployment issues, specific sessions and meetings at the Labour Party Conference have touched on employment regulations and business support provisions that will have a direct bearing on the industry.

Responding to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) announcement today about anti competitive conduct by a number of recruitment agencies in the construction sector, the REC's Chief Executive Kevin Green says: “All recruiters must respect the laws and we take this breach of competition law seriously. This was an isolated example in a very competitive industry and we understand that all the agencies involved have co-operated with the OFT investigation."

Speaking from the Labour Party conference in Brighton, REC Director of External Relations Tom Hadley said: "A number of the big debates over the last couple of days have been of direct relevance for the recruitment industry. The short and mid-term outlook for jobs is one of the hottest topics in town and specific fringe events have enabled us to take forward key industry lines with the Employment Minister Jim Knight. The current and potential contribution of professional recruiters is increasingly recognised and is something that we will continue to promote to the highest levels of Government."

After much discussion and deliberation, the REC is proud to announce the finalists for the inaugural Institute of Recruitment Professionals’ (IRP) Awards.

Last week's Board meeting of Eurociett - the representative body for the recruitment industry in Europe - focussed on some of the key EU public policy developments and on the latest market data from different national federations.

The REC had a presence at this week’s Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth at which several issues concerning the jobs market were raised.

The REC has pledged the recruitment industry’s support in addressing the challenge of rising youth unemployment.

With the Office of Fair Trading fining leading building companies nearly £130 million for rigging contract bids, the REC has re-emphasised the need for recruitment businesses to abide by competition law.

The REC has welcomed the new Government Pay and Work Rights helpline, which is going live today to help vulnerable workers seek advice about their rights and report abuses of those rights.