IT recruitment specialist Spring Group is playing down the significance of having quit the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo).

Spring's membership of ATSCo came up for renewal at the end of the year. But it did not renew.

Spring chief executive Richard Barfield was made chairman of the board of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) last summer. Spring's departure has fuelled further speculation of a bitter rivalry between ATSCo and the REC, which has its own IT sector group.

But Spring spokesperson Joanne Lemon said: “There is no connection between these two things. It's a matter between Spring and ATSCo. Richard has explained the reasons for not renewing to [ATSCo chief executive] Ann Swain.”

She denied that there was any rift between Spring and ATSCo. Spring's decision not to renew surprised some ATSCo members. Many companies are members of both REC and ATSCo.