The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) plans to bring devolution to the trade body by setting up REC Scotland.

While the prospect of a “subset of the REC” north of the border may be 12 months away, plans are already in place to recruit a chairman for the REC in Scotland.

“Scotland has been the biggest challenge but we’re working on it actively,” said Gareth Osborne, managing director of the REC. He has already visited recruitment chiefs in Edinburgh to listen to their views and to discuss ways in which the trade body can service them. Scotland was one of the first regions to have an REC regional sales executive.

“We don’t have to separate from each other but we have local issues that are relevant and different,” added Osborne.

The REC also plans to introduce a raft of new initiatives aimed at raising standards across the industry.

New members will undergo an audit six months after they join the REC “to check they are what they say they are”. It is also considering introducing a series of fines for members who contravene the REC code of practice – in a similar scheme to points on a driving licence – which could ultimately lead to expulsion.