Antal International is introducing a development programme for its top billing consultants to aid retention.

Group sales director Patrick Broderick told the firm's annual conference: "The programme will recognise and reward our key revenue generators. Their success will be publicised and they will act as inspiration to new recruits."

Antal, which recruits in the financial and other sectors, will set up a special business school for the project. Consultants will be nominated for the development programme by their line managers.

There will be seven modules: new business generation, business ethics, key account development, team building, selling advertisements, utilising networks and delivering to clients. The programme will culminate in an exam, which the board of directors will attend. Those who pass will receive a diploma, which will be a passport to more training within the firm.

The company will also introduce a graduate scheme next year. This is being developed by recruitment-to-recruitment company Perriam and Everett, and will place consultants with 18 months' post-graduate work experience, not those fresh from university.

Zena Everett, founder of Perriam and Everett, told the conference: "There is a growing trend among recruiters to take on consultants that understand their sector rather than someone who has worked for a mediocre competitor."